Yonex All England Badminton 2009

High five for China - Richard Eaton

2009-03-09T10:49:00.010Z

by Richard Eaton

China became the first nation ever to win all five titles in the open era at the All-England championships when Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng wrapped up the the men's doubles 21-17, 21-15 against Korea's Han Sang Hoon and Hwang Ji Man.

China had won all five in a world championship before, but that was in Beijing back in 1987, and this, in European conditions, was a far tougher task. It was also the first clean sweep in the open or amateur eras since 1948.

The success which really made it possible was that of Wang Yihan, the young unseeded player from Shanghai, who beat Tine Rasmussen, the top-seeded titleholder from Denmark who won the women's singles at only the second attempt, 21-19, 21-23, 21-11.

But the success which attracted the most attention was the repeat of the Olympic men's singles final, in which Lin Dan again beat Lee Chong Wei, the world number one from Malaysia, in straight games, though this was a closer match than the one at the Games.

The Chinese star beat the ambitious, hard-working Malaysian 21-19, 21-12, after beginning rather patchily, then grabbing his first important chance, and accelerating away impressively towards the end.

Asked how or why he won, Lin said: ”It wasn't tactical or anything – we are both good players. It was more psychological. I was focussed and calm. I think I played quite well. There were a couple of times in the first set where I didn't handle the situation the best I could and let him have an advantage. But I kept my form and managed to play well.”

Lin was also concerned to promote the right image of himself. “The fact that I have an outgoing personality might be seen as a bad thing, that I am a rebel. But I am anxious to show that I am quite a good person and for people to understand me better.”

However, for a while in the first game Lin faltered unexpectedly. From leads of 8-2, 10-6, and 16-12 he began to make errors, not all of them forced, allowing Lee to nudge his way up to 19-17.

Lee often lifted or pushed the shuttle to the backhand side of Lin, but with mixed success, and when it really mattered Lin sprang back to his best form again. A flat cross court was too difficult for Lee to contain, and the Malaysian put an overhead drop into the net to let Lin back in at 18-19, and thereafter the Chinese left-hander won three points quickly.

When he reached game point at 20-19, the rally was over in a flash, Lin serving accurately and following it up with a smash which got through immediately. That increased the pressure on the Olympic silver medallist, who had been only too aware he had lost eight of their nine previous meetings, and his expression and body language increasingly hinted at tension.

And from 14-12 Lin went through to the finish in one magnificent run of seven points. At the end, while shaking hands acorss the net, he pushed his face close to Lee's to show his comradeship, but when he really wanted to win Lin showed another side of himself – explosive, dynamic, and very professional.

Wang's win was victory for a good temperament, a good all-round game, and fresher, lighter movement. She was unable to convert a match point at 21-20 in the second game, which created a few alarms as Rasmussen had saved two against another Chinese player Jian Yanjiao the previous day.

But Rasmussen, whose preparation had been affected by a heel injury, only had the energy left to hang on, and against a player of the 21-year-old Wang's great potential, that was never likely to be enough.

“I didn't have any pressure,” said Wang, who had looked relaxed most of the time except the end of the second game. “I just really tried to play what I know – and it's nice to be able to do it that way.

“We both played well in the first two games, but in the third I think I was physically stronger and fitter.”

Asked if she thought about the title before the end of the match, Wang said no, but that she had imagined it before the match. “I did it secretly,” she said. “I imagined what I would do and what expression I would have! But when it came to the match I just focussed.”

Rasmussen said: "I started playing again - after a heel injury - only three days before the tournament, so I am very satisfied with reaching the final. Of course when you get there you always want more.

"I could feel it wasn't going in the right direction, even when I was winning, because the matches were going on too long. But before the tournament I would have guessed I would fallen over on the court.

"But I have to be pleased with what I did. I could easily have been out in the semi-finals," she added, referring to her saving two match points against Jian Yanjiao.

Earlier He Hanbin and Yu Yang had won the mixed doubles, and Zhang Yawen and Zhao Tingting the women's doubles.

Afterwards China's head coach, Li Yongbo, said: "We didn't think about winning all five titles. We mustn't think about outside factors, or we can't play the way we have."

Asked if China's controversial decision to skip the Super Series finals in Malaysia in December had been justified by this performance, Li answered, laughing: "Do you think we made the wrong choice?"

And asked if China would compete in the next Super Series event, Li replied: "It depends on each team and each circumstance. We have to look at what is best for each player. We didn't think the decision was controversial."
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Chinese clean sweep in All England finals

2009-03-08T11:14:00.061Z

China claimed an historic clean sweep of all five All England titles at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham - the first time the feat has been achieved since Denmark in 1948 - on a day which saw Lin Dan claim his fourth singles title while unseeded Yihan Wang became women's champion at the first attempt.

FINALS RESULTS:
XD: [3] He & Yu (Chn) bt Ko & Ha (Kor) 13/21, 21/15, 21/9 (55m)
MS: [2] Lin Dan (Chn) bt [1] Chong Wei Lee (Mas) 21/19, 21/12 (43m)
WD: [7] Zhang & Zhao (Chn) bt Cheng & Zhao (Chn) 21/13, 21/15 (48m)
WS: Yihan Wang (Chn) bt [1] Tine Rasmussen (Den) 21/19, 21/23, 21/11
MD: [7] Cai & Fu (Chn) bt Han & Hwang (Kor) 21/19, 21/15

END OF THE ROAD FOR KOREAN QUALIFIERS

The first match of the day was the Mixed Doubles final, with Korean qualifiers Ko & Ha taking on the third-seeded Chinese pair, Olympic bronze medallists He & Yu. The young Koreans got off to a great start, taking the first game as the errors piled up for the Chinese pair.

They struck back in the second though, attacking strongly and despite some tremendous defence, the Koreans were always behind as the match was levelled. The onslaught continued in the decider, with the Chinese taking the first ten points, and there was no coming back from that as the first title of the day went China's way - the fourth time in a row they have taken this title.

IT'S LIN DAN AGAIN

This was the much-awaited rerun of the Beijing Olympic final, with World & Olympic champion Lin Dan out to capture his fourth All England title and to prove he is worthy of the number one ranking - and with a 10/3 head to head record in his favour few were willing to bet against him.

Lin Dan threatened to run away with the first, opening up an 8-2 lead, but a number of errors allowed Lee to stay in touch, and at the interval the second seed led just 11-9. The Malaysian pulled level at 17-all, even led 19-17, but Lin Dan finished the stronger to take the lead.

The world champion held sway in the second, leading 11-8 at the interval and extending that to 18-12. A crosscourt smash found the line, Lee left one that just landed in and it was match point. A tremendous diving recovery from Lin Dan, Lee pushed it long, and Lin Dan had regained the All England title, his fourth victory in six years.

Lin Dan, who was eager to celebrate by going shopping, said: “I felt I played quite well but we both did and the real winners had to be the fans who saw the match.

“There were a couple of times in the first set when I let him get an advantage but I recovered and I thought I played well.”

Lee said: “It was a better match than our Olympic meeting but he has improved! He has got a psychological advantage now after beating me three times in a row recently. Next time I need to break up his rhythm. He is a good attacker and plays very fast.”

EXPERIENCE PAYS IN WOMEN'S DOUBLES

A Chinese victory was assured in this match, and it was the the experienced pair of Zhang & Zhao who made the better start, leading 11-5 in the first and getting the better of some tremendous rallies - including one at 96 shots - to take the first 21-13.

Trailing 11-10 in the second, the elder pair made their experience pay as they pulled ahead, reaching match point on 20-13. Two were saved, but on the third the the youngster's shuttle was erroneously called long to finish the match. A third title for China and third time lucky for Zhao Ting Ting, after two runners-up medals in previous years.

RASMUSSEN'S REIGN ENDED

Another experience v youth clash, and it was the 21-year-old former World Junior Champion who made the early running, holding her nerve at the end of a tight first game to take the lead.

Top seed and defending champion Tine Rasmussen wasn't going to give up her title easily though, and the Dane tightened up her game, contined to get the better of the net exchanges, reached the second game interval leading 11-9 and looked to be getting on top as she extended the lead to 15-12.

Some careless errors let her opponent back into it though, and at 18-all, then 19-all it was in the balance. Some incredible defence from Rasmussen took her to game point, but two smashes from Wang gave her a championship point. Some tremendously determined from the Dane, and three rallies later we were heading for a decider.

Wang kept the pace high, and although Rasmussen was still finding some winners, she was under constant pressure, and the Chinese led 11-5 at the interval. At 16-9 Rasmussen was in need of another miracle comeback as in her semi-final, but her young opponent continued to pile on the pressure, and three consecutive errors made it 19-9. Another mistake gave Wang ten championship points. She needed just two of them, and as Rasmussen's final shot sailed long China was within one win of an unprecedented clean sweep in the open era..

Wang said: “In the third game I felt physically stronger. It was a pity I didn’t take the match point in the second game but I really enjoyed myself out there.

“I had secretly imagined what it would be like to win the title but when I started the match I just focused on what I had to do. I think I played in my peak form today.”

MEN'S DOUBLES SEALS CHINESE DOMINATION

Only another victory by unseeded players could spoil China's day, but the seventh seeded Chinese pair, former world champions, started the last match of the day as overwhelming favourites.

The Korean pairing made a good start, reaching the first game interval 11-10 in the lead, but the Chinese started to get on top with some tremendous play in attack and defence, and a 19-15 lead was a good enough cushion to see them take the lead, 21-17.

Cai & Fu were always ahead in the second, and although the Koreans competed well they could never close the gap. A final midcourt smash and the Chinese pair went down on their knees in celebration.

All England Semi-finals - Richard Eaton

2009-03-07T20:14:00.004Z

by Richard Eaton

Lee Chong Wei signalled his determination to atone for his defeat in the Olympic final six months ago with an impressive performance in reaching the final of the All-England Open for the first time.

The top-seeded Malaysian destroyed Taufik Hidayat, the former Olympic and world champion from Indonesia 21-8, 21-13 in little more than half an hour to earn an eagerly anticipated repeat encounter with Lin Dan, the hero of Beijing.

True, Hidayat looked a little slow after his superb but tiring preformance in bringing down Peter Gade, the former world number one from Denmark, the day before, and going to three games with England's Andrew Smith the day before that. But Lee was explosive in attack, resilient in defence, and occasionally inspired as he contained the best shots that his celebrated opponent could throw at him.

The first game was one way traffic, partly because Taufik's error ratio was so high. The second saw Taufik play much better, and Lee's standard improved by even more. The highlight was a sensational rally at 13-12, when Taufik was well in the match, but no matter how hard he tried to push for a winner with smashes and attempted kills, Lee plunged around the court and got everything back.

The Malaysian then played an express sequence of piston-like mid-court exchanges, and finished the point with a winning jab. That took the momentum out of Taufik's partial recovery, and it was not long before Lee was making rapid progress, often with smashes to the body, which sometimes exposed the Indonesian as a little slow.

“Everyone wants to see a repeat of the Olympic final,” said Lee afterwards. “And I will do my best. It will be a difficult match.”

It will indeed, for Lin has won eight of his last nine meetings against the current world number one, and looked in very good form in ending the All-England title defence of his Chinese compatriot, Chen Jing.

He once again displayed his vast range of options, both in attack and defence, and his versatility in switching between them with disconcerting suddenness, to take an early 7-1 and stay well in front all through.

It was about halfway through the second game that Chen began to suffer further difficulties with an enduring back problem, and with the score at 21-12, 11-6 he retired. Both finalists should be relatively fresh for their showdown.

However it was women's singles semi-final between the other top seed, Tine Rasmussen, and the unseeded Chinese player Jiang Yanjiao which produced the best match and the best recovery in this and most other tournaments.

The Dane was so far behind, trailing by a game and 6-15, and then by 9-17, that her title defence seemed over, but somehow she came back to win 22-24, 25-23, 21-15. Rasmussen also saved match points at 19-20 and 22-23 in the second game, forsaking her usual robust attacking style and floating the shuttle around with pushes, clears and lifts, and gradually working her way back into it.

She managed to coax errors from her less experienced 22-year-old opponent, and by the time she had edged forward from 8-8 in the final game to 14-10 and 15-11 it had become evident she had the patience and determination to see the recovery through till the end.

Earlier however, nothing had seemed less likely. After missing a game point for the first game with a missed net shot from well above the height of the net, Rasmussen appeared to sink into a depression. Her body language slumped and her ability to attack diminished, perhaps hindered by the heel injury which had interrupted her preparation for much of the last two weeks.

But during the interval between games Rasmussen was exhorted to fight by Morten Frost, the four times former All-England, who also kept up a constant barrage of encouragement during the second half of the match.

“Morten told me to be patient and to fight,” said Rasmussen. “I think it was my patience more than anything which won it for me. I think it's the best comeback I have ever made and I feel great about it.

It was first time in 29 years that two Danes had reached the semi-finals of the women's singles, but Rasmussen will next play, not another Dane but another unseeded Chinese player, Wang Yihan.

Wang, a 21-year-old former world junior champion was a comfortable 21-11, 21-7 winner over the most surprising survivor, Nanna Brosolat, a 25-year-old from Copenhagen, who may however have been tired after coming through the qualifying competition.
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Rasmussen Survives in All England Semis

2009-03-07T15:09:00.030Z

Defending women's singles champion Tine Rasmussen is into another All England Final - but only just.

The 29-year-old Dane was a game down and trailing 14/4 in the second to dimunitive Chinese left-hander Yanjiao Jiang, but a tremendous fightback saw her save two match points before levelling, then going on to take the third after an hour's play. Having won the Malaysian and Korean Open titles in January, Rasmussen is chasing a hat-trick of Super Series titles.

Hopes of an all-Danish final were dashed when China's second seed Yihan Wang defeated surprise package Nanna Brosolat in straight games. This is Wan's first All England, but she will be boosted by victory in last week's German Open.

In the first men's semi-final world number one Chong Wei Lee dominated the first game against an out of sorts Taufik Hidayat, and although the Indonesian improved in the second, the top-seeded Malaysian pulled clear to complete a comfortable enough passage into the final, his first All England but his third Super Series final of the year.

There he will face World and Olympic champion Lin Dan, who reached his sixth successive All England final as he put out defending champion Chen Jin. Having barely survived in his quarter-final, Chen was clearly not in the form of last year, and in the second game looked to be struggling with a back injury. At the mid-game interval he called for the tournament doctor, but without being given any treatment decided he was unable to continue and conceded the match.

The men’s doubles final will feature No 7 seeds and former champions Cai Yun & Fu Haifeng of China against unseeded Korean pair Han Sang Hoon & Hwang Ji Man, who are ranked 160 in the world.

The women’s doubles final will be be an all-China final between No 7 seeds Zhang Yawen & Zhao Tingting, who knocked out Olympic champions and 2008 All England runners-up Du Jing and Yu Yang, and unseeded Cheng Shu & Zhao Yunlei, who followed up their quarter-final dismissal of the top seeds to claim a three-game win over Korean fifth seeds Ha & Kim.

In the mixed doubles Korean qualifiers Sung Hyun Ko & Jung Eun Ha followed up their defeat of England's Clark & Kellog with a tremendous comeback win over the Chinese pair of Zheng Bo & M Jin. Having lost the first on extra points they saved a match point in the second, then took the third as the Chinese pair's frustration grew. In the final they face China's third seeds Hanbin He & Yang Yu.

Sat 7th March, SEMI-FINALS:
Men's Singles:
[1] Chong Wei Lee (Mas) bt [7] Taufik Hidayat (Ina) 21/8, 21/13 (34m)
[2] Lin Dan (Chn) bt [3] Chen Jin (Chn) 21/12, 11/6 rtd (30m)

Women's Singles:
[1] Tine Rasmussen (Den) bt Yangjiao Jiang (Chn) 22/24, 25/23, 21/15 (60m)
[2] Yihan Wang (Chn) bt [Q] Nanna Brosolat (Den) 21/11, 21/7 (26m)

Men's Doubles:
Han & Hwang (Kor) bt [6] Lee & Shin (Kor) 21/17, 21/18 (25m)
[7] Cai & Haifeng (Chn) bt [5] Boe & Mogensen (Den) 23/21, 21/14 (40m)

Women's Doubles:
Cheng & Zhao (Chn) bt Ha & Kim (Kor) 21/23, 21/15, 21/17 (68m)
[7] Zhang & Zhao (Chn) bt [4] Du & Yu (Chn) 16/21, 21/16, 21/16 (71m)

Mixed Doubles:
[3] He & Yu (Chn) bt Limpele & Russkikh (Ina/Rus) 21/12, 21/14 (36m)
[Q] Ko & Ha (Kor) bt Zheng & Ma (Chn) 20/22, 24/22, 21/12 (61m)

Chen clings to title amidst quarter-final drama - Richard Eaton

2009-03-07T12:37:00.017Z

by Richard Eaton

Chen Jin clung to his All-England title by the width of a net tape, after a terrific recovery, and amidst a storm of booing during a controversial finish to his quarter-final in the All-England Open.

It looked as though his unseeded opponent, Sho Sasaki, had come back from a five-point final game deficit to 20-20 when he leapt forward and dismissed a tight net shot from Chen with a lunging kill.

But the third-seeded Chinese player stood and pointed, objecting that there had been a foul, and umpire Mike Wright of New Zealand, after an agonising pause, and a slow gesture, agreed, calling the match to Chen by 14-21, 21-13, 21-19.

Sasaki looked unable to believe it, dropping his racket, complaining, and going walkabout, while Chen shook hands with all the officials.

This brought noisy hoots from the crowd and for a while it looked as though a major incident might blow up, as Chen had completed his formalities and began to make his way towards his kitbag.

But at the last moment the Sasaki got over his frustration, completed his circles of frenzied walking, and shook hands with the champion, and the umpire.

"His racket definitely touched the net," said Chen. "Though it wasn't his fault. It was my game and I am happy to take the point. Just as long as I won it doesn't matter to me how it happens."

Earlier Chen had been in trouble when he went a game and 7-12 down, but suddenly he achieved a better mixture of defence and attack and began coaxing errors from the nimble, patient Sasaki.

Chen was later joined in the semi-finals by Taufik Hidayat, the former Olympic and world champion who reached the All-England final when he was only 17 but in ten years since has never won it.

The famous Indonesian was trailing by two points in both games against Peter Gade, the former world number one from Denmark, but raised his game brilliantly when it most mattered to secure a 21-17, 21-18 win.

"When he got back like that it made me feel a little insecure," admitted the 32-year-old Gade, who is uncertain whether or not he will make one more attempt to win back the title he took in 1999.

"Normally I would make him make some mistakes, but I made a few and I'm disappointed about that. It was like a game of chess out there and he made some good decisions and played very well today."

It was also a disappointment for Gade because he had won three of the last five Super Series tournaments. However he felt he is still playing well enough to have a chance of going on at least to next year's world championships in Paris.

This might enable Gade, a wine-tasting buff, to finish his career in one of his favourite cities, for he feels that going on to the London 2012 Games is probably beyond him.

Later one of his unseeded compatriots fared much better. Nanna Brosolat, who upset Pi Hongyan, the world number four from France, to reach the quarter-finals, followed it with another confident performance and a 21-16, 21-16 win over Wong Pei Xian of Malaysia.

Taufik now plays Lee Chong Wei, the world number one from Malaysia, who conceded only 18 points in beating Ville Kang of Finland, while Chen's title defence took him to a semi-final with Lin Dan, the Olympic champion.

Chen looked superb as he crushed Joachim Persson, the sixth-seeded Dane, and the only remaining European 21-13, 21-6, and afterwards said he would be happy to coach any European youngsters if they were to come to Beijing.

Two Danes and two Chinese, however, have reached the women's singles semi-finals, which may be more to the taste of a predominantly European crowd.

Titleholder, Tine Rasmussen let slip a frightening seven match points in a row from 20-9 in the final game but still beat Yip Pui Yin of Hongkong 21-17, 18-21, 21-16, thus earning a match with Jiang Yanjiao, a surprise survivor.

And in the other semi, Brosolat, who has progressed further than any previous women's singles qualifier, plays Wang Yihan, the rising young world number 17. Wang had already beaten one compatriot who is a former All-England champion, Zhou Mi, and now beat another, Xie Xingfang, 21-19, 21-13, in a rather bloodless encounter.

The biggest surprises in the doubles came in the mixed. First Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir, the world champions from Indonesia, lost 21-13, 21-23, 21-16 to their compatriot Flandy Limpele and his Russian partner Anastasia Russkikh; then the Olympic champions from Korea, Lee Yong Dae and Lee Hyo Jung, lost to Zheng Bo, the titleholder from China, and his new partner Ma Jin, 13-21, 21-18, 21-18.
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England pairs fall in Yonex All England quarter-finals

2009-03-06T21:44:00.008Z

England's hopes of a Yonex All England title were dashed at the quarter-finals stage tonight when the last home hopes both went crashing at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham.

Gabby White and Jenny Wallwork fell in straight games to Olympic champions and 2008 runners-up Du Jin and Yu Yang, the fourth seeds from China, 21-6 21-8 in 29 minutes.

White and Wallwork, who are mentored by 2004 Olympic silver and 2006 world champion Gail Emms, just couldn't keep up with the Chinese.

But the England pair can still be well satisfied with their second-round win over Denmark's sixth seeds Lena Frier Kristiansen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl.

Fourth seeds Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg were England's last hopes as they went into mixed doubles action against Ko Sung Hyun and Ha Jung Eun.

But the European champions and 2007 runners-up were knocked out in a 54-minute three-game battle 21-16 15-21 21-11.

The opening game saw the England pair hold the Koreans until 7-7 before they ran away with the opener. But Clark and Kellogg hit back in the second game despite being pegged back from 15-11 to 15-15. Then a run of six points swept Clark and Kellogg to the game at 21-15.

In the decider Clark and Kellogg made the early running but the Koreans were level at 7-7 and never looked back with a match-winning surge from 14-9 to 20-10. Clark and Kellogg saved the first match point but the Koreans took it on the second match point 21-11.
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Yonex extend All England sponsorship to 31 years

2009-03-05T17:35:00.001Z

BADMINTON England are celebrating today after agreeing an extension of their title sponsorship for the All England Open Championships with Yonex Co. Ltd.

The new agreement is for five years and will extend the current sponsorship to 2014.

This week’s Championship here in the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham is the 26th to be sponsored by Yonex, the world’s No 1 badminton brand.

But by continuing the sponsorship through to 2014, Yonex will become the longest title sponsors in UK sport.

Adrian Christy, Chief Executive of BADMINTON England, said: “We are delighted to be continuing such a successful partnership. The All England is the oldest and most prestigious tournament in world badminton.

“Next year’s Championships will be the 100th and I am delighted that the extension to our current deal with Yonex will start with us celebrating this great milestone in badminton history.”

Paul Jepson, managing director of Yonex UK, said: “Yonex, are proud to be associated with these magnificent championships and we are delighted to continue this long and successful partnership with BADMINTON England.

“The name Yonex is now synonymous with the All England and long may it continue. I know the founder of the Yonex Company, Mr Minoru Yoneyama, will be here again this week and so it is with perfect timing that we announce this good news to you today.”
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Wallwork and White through to All England quarter-finals

2009-03-05T16:05:00.004Z

Jenny Wallwork and Gabby White led the way once again on day three of the 99th Yonex All England Badminton Championships at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham.

They pulled off what was a surprisingly comfortable win over sixth seeds Lena Frier Kristiansen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl of Denmark 21-12 21-8.

The England girls were clearly pumped up for the match and dominated their Danish opponents, taking just 32 minutes to finish off the seeded pair.

There was a fantastic atmosphere in the arena as many turned up to support the home nation, and this appeared to inspire the young girls.

“That’s the best we’ve ever played,” said White.

"They clearly had a game plan and with the advice of Gail Emms tactically got everything right, attacking from the first point, defending expertly and exposing the Dane’s weaknesses.

“We know one of the girls had been injured recently (Kristiansen) so we needed to get in their faces quickly, get on top of them. Gail knows them inside out, so with her tactical knowledge we had the best preparation we could have had."

Emms and Nathan Robertson defeated Juhl and Thomas Laybourn in the 2005 Yonex All England mixed doubles final.

Wallwork and White’s quarter-final opponents are expected to be Olympic champions and 2008 All England runners-up Du Jing and Yu Yang of China, who play France’s Laura Choinet and Weny Rahmawati later.

“They are Olympic champions but we need to go out there with the same confidence and game plan, and just try and get on top of them,” said Wallwork.

Andrew Smith is in second-round men's singles action later today against former world and Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat, the seventh seed.

White is back in action later on when she and Chris Adcock take on European champions and fourth seeds Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg in the mixed doubles in the evening.

And the third day action finishes with the Anglo-Scottish pairing of Robert Blair and Imogen Bankier taking on Flandy Limpele of Indonesia and Anastasia Russkikh of Russia also in the mixed doubles.

Smith through to All England second round for first time

2009-03-04T21:05:00.002Z

Jenny Wallwork and Gabby White recorded England's first win on day two of the 99th Yonex All England Badminton Championships 2009.

And Andrew Smith came from behind against Chetan Anand in the men's singles to book a second-round clash with former world and Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat.

The Yorkshire pair gave a magnificent display to beat their Malaysian opponents Liu Ying Goh and Hui Lin Ng 19-21 21-17 22-20.

The turning point in the match was in the second game as the English pair found themselves 7-13 down. A run of eight straight points then gave them a 15-13 lead, as they went on to level the match.

Although squandering two match points in the third, they took the contest at the third attempt in what was a hard-fought, deserved victory.

Smith got off to a slow start in his match, losing the first game 21-6 before hitting back hard to beat Anand 21-17 21-12 and claim a place in the second round for the first time.

Smith said: "I hadn't played much since Friday at the German tournament so it took a bit of time to get into it.

"I didn't start very well but I slowly got into it. I was playing too slow and had to speed up my game."

But there were some disappointments on the second day of the Championships, particularly the withdrawal of British Olympic star Nathan Robertson through illness.

He was struck down by a virus, forcing him and Anthony Clark, the eighth seeds, to withdraw from the men’s doubles. It also denied fans the chance to see Robertson take on Clark in the mixed doubles in what would have been the match of the day.

Fourth seeds Clark and Donna Kellogg received a walkover into the second round where they could meet Chris Adcock and Gabby White if the teenagers win their opening match.

Men’s doubles pairing Chris Langridge and David Lindley battled well with Holland’s Jorrit De Ruiter and Jurgen Wouters but went down 21-14, 12-21,
22-20 on the third match point.

Nicola Cerfontyne and Rachel Howard had the difficult task of taking on fourth seeds and Olympic champions Du Jing and Yu Yang of China in the women’s doubles. The Chinese proved too much for the English pairing as they were comprehensively beaten 21-7, 21-7.

Another disappointment, this time in the men’s doubles, saw Super Series Masters finalists Chris Adcock and Robert Blair lose out to Denmark’s Anders Kristiansen and Simon Mollyhus 19-21 21-17 21-12.

Richard Eidestedt and Andrew Ellis put up one of the performances of the day despite losing to 2007 champions Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong 15-21 21-7 21-19.

Anglo-Scottish women’s doubles pairing Mariana Agathangelou and Imogen Bankier failed to produce a win to lift the home fans, as they went down 21-17 21-16 to China’s Pan Pan and Qing Tian.
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Pittard through to main draw at Yonex All England

2009-03-03T19:25:00.008Z

COVENTRY’S Jill Pittard moved confidently through the women’s singles qualifying rounds into the main draw on day one of the Yonex All England Championships at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham.

The new English National champion took her opening qualifying match with a good win over third seed Anu Nieminen of Finland 21-14 21-14. And the 31-year-old Land Rover engineer then overcome Diana Dimova of Bulgaria 21-13 21-8 to earn a place in the main draw, where she will face Pui Yin Yip of Hong Kong tomorrow (Wednesday, 10am).

Pittard said: “I was surprised how easily I beat Nieminen but it was my priority to get through to the main draw. But it will be tough tomorrow.”

But there was disappointment for National men’s singles champion Rajiv Ouseph (Middx) and runner-up Carl Baxter (Avon). Ouseph came from a game down to lead Scott Evans of Ireland in his first qualifying test and looked to be on the way to victory when he led 13-11 in the third.

But the Irishman, who lost to Ouseph 21-5 21-19 in the final of the Yonex Irish International in early December, clawed his way back to 14-14 before going on to snatch victory 21-17 9-21 21-19.

Minutes earlier Canadian-born Baxter had been beaten by Anand Pawar of India 18-21 21-17 23-21 despite having led 2-18 in the decider. Afterwards he said: “I became too impatient to win. I was trying to force the issue all the time. He was lucky towards the end but played well.”

Baxter, who lost to Pawar 22-20 in the third game of their quarter-final clash at the Bank of Scotland International in November, added: “I was expecting to face Rajiv in the next round but he lost as well, which was a complete shock.”

England’s other singles disappointment saw Rachel Howard fall in the second qualifying round to Denmark’s Nanna Brasolat Jenssen 21-12 21-9. But at least Howard is through to the main women’s doubles draw after she and Nicola Cerfontyne were promoted from the qualifying draw.

There was agony for Robin Middleton (Yorks) and Mariana Agathangelou (Avon), who were one point away from a place in the main draw of the mixed doubles. In fact, they had three match points against third seeds Johannes Schoettler and Birgit Overzier, the pick of them coming from an amazing cross-court winner by Middleton at 21-20. But Middleton then put his serve out and the England pair were finally edged out by the Germans 8-21 22-20 24-22.

But Yorkshire’s Sarah Bok and Andrew Ellis went through to the main draw when they defeated Dutch pair Ruud Bosch and Paulien van Dooremalen 22-20 21-18. Middleton will get a second chance to make the main draw later tonight when he and Marcus Ellis face India’s Chetan Anand and Diju Valiyaveetil in their final men’s doubles qualifier.

Rob Adcock (Notts) and Dean George (Herts) meet Guo Zhendong and Xu Chen and Andrew Bowman (Scotland) and Martyn Lewis (Wales) take on Rasmus Bonde and Mikkel Delbo Larsen for places in the main draw in the qualifying day’s final matches.

The first day of the Championships was made extra special by a visit from the Barclays Premier League football trophy – with several top stars, including Rexy Mainaky and Lee Chong Wei being photographed with the trophy.
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Adcock and Blair fall in the semi-finals in Mulheim

2009-02-28T16:42:00.000Z

Second seeds Chris Adcock and Robert Blair fell in the semi-final of the men's doubles at the Yonex German Open in Mulheim.

The England pair went down 28-26 21-16 against Koreans Lee Yong Dae and Shin Baek Cheol. It was Lee who had beaten Adcock in the mixed doubles quarter-finals the night before.

Adcock and Blair led 19-16 in the opening game before the Koreans caught up. In total the England pair had six game points before the Koreans took the game on their fifth.

In the second game Adcock and Blair saved three match points before Lee and Shin won it on their fourth to end a 40-minute duel.

But Adcock and Blair will have given themselves a timely boost by their efforts this week as they head home for the Yonex All England Championships, starting on Tuesday in Birmingham.

Friday

Chris Adcock and Robert Blair are through to the semi-finals of the men's doubles at the Yonex German Open in Mulheim.

The second seeds beat Kwon Yo Goo and Yoo Yeon Seong 21-16 11-21 21-19 in a gripping quarter-final. In the semi-final they will meet another Korean pair in Lee Yong Dae and Shin Baek Cheol.

But Adcock's bid for a second semi-final place ended in disappointment as he and Gabby White, the sixth seeds, went down bravely against Lee Yong Dae and Lee Hyo Jung, the Olympic mixed doubles champions.

The England pair were edged out 23-21 21-15 but Adcock will bid for revenge when he meets Yong Dae again in the men's doubles.

In the men's singles Andrew Smith took China's top seed Bao Chunlai to three games before losing 21-11 14-21 21-7. And three-times National champion Elizabeth Cann also went down to a top seed in the women's singles when she lost 21-8 21-17 to China's Zhu Lin.

The England performances in Mulheim will leave Ian Wright's players in good heart for next week's Yonex All England Championships in Birmingham, starting on Tuesday.

But first Adcock and Blair have unfinished business on Semifinal Saturday.

Thursday

Andrew Smith is through to Friday's quarter-finals of the Yonex German Open in Mulheim.

The fifth seed scored two wins on day two, beating Anand Pawar 14-21 21-4 21-8 in the second round and then toppling another Indian in ninth seed Arvin Bhat, coming from behind to win a tight match 16-21 21-11 21-19. That earned him a clash with China's top seed Bao Chunlai.

But English National champion Rajiv Ouseph's hopes of joining him were dashed when, after beating Malaysian Chun Seang Tan 21-18 17-21 21-15, he went down to Chinese qualifier Chen Long 21-12 21-14.

In the women's singles Elizabeth Cann faces the same sort of task as Smith after reaching the last eight. She beat Japan's Megumi Taruno 22-20 21-14 in the second round and now faces Chinese top seed Zhu Lin.

Sixth seeds Chris Adcock and Gabby White also went through to the quarter-finals with a 21-18 21-17 win over Canadians William Milroy and Fiona McKee and they now face Olympic champions Lee Yong Dae and Lee Hyo Jung of Korea.

But there was disappointment for Richard Eidestedt and Andrew Ellis in the mixed doubles when the top seeds went down 21-10 21-17 to Malaysian Halim Haryanto Ho and Indonesian Flandy Limpele.

But second seeds Chris Adcock and Robert Blair are through to a quarter-final clash with Malaysians Mak Hee Chun and Tan Wee Kiong after their 21-17 21-19 win over Koreans Kwon Yi Goo and Yoo Yeon Seong.

blair and adcockIn the women's doubles defending Yonex All England champions Lee Hyo Jung and Lee Kyung Won knocked out the Anglo-Scottish pair of Mariana Agathangelou and Jillie Cooper 21-11 21-10.

Wednesday

Rajiv Ouseph knocked out eighth seed Dicky Palyama of Holland to reach the second round of the Yonex German Open.

The English National champion won 21-12 21-18 to earn a second-round clash with malaysian Tan Chun Seang.

Fifth seed Andrew Smith also went thorugh to the last 32 but he was made to battle by Canadian David Snider before winning 23-25 21-19 21-16. He now meets India's Anand Pawar.

Elizabeth Cann is also through to the second round after winning her opening women's singles clash with Denmark's Nanna Brosolat Jensen 21-14 21-18. She now meets Megumi Taruno of Japan. Commonwealth bronze medallist Susan Hughes went down in three games to Holland's judith Meulendijks, losing 17-21 21-13 21-19.

Top men's doubles seeds Richard Eidestedt and Andrew Ellis had to work hard to win their opener against Poland's Adam Cwalina and Wojciech Szkudlarkczyk. Their 21-12 21-23 21-14 win earned them a second round clash with Flandy Limpele of Indonesia and Halim Haryanto Ho of Indonesia.

Second seeds Chris Adcock and Robert Blair had a comfortable 21-9 21-13 win over Baptiste Careme and Ronan Labar of France. But Chris Langridge and David Lindley went down 21-11 18-21 21-12 against Korea's Kwon Yi Goo and Yoo Yeon Seong.

Yonex All England champions Lee Hyo Jung and Lee Kyung Won of Korea were too strong for England's Sarah Bok and Gabrielle White. Their 21-6 21-9 win netted them a second-round clash with Mariana Agathangelou and Jillie Cooper after the Anglo-Scottish pair beat Samantha Barning and Eefje Muskens 21-17 21-17.

Sixth seeds Chris Adcock and Gabby White had a mixed doubles walkover to move within one win of a likely clash with Olympic champions Lee Yong Dae and Lee Hyo Jung in the quarter-finals.

But England's three other hopes fell in the first round. Third seeds David Lindley and Suzanne Rayappan missed a match point in losing 22-20 in the third game against Flandy Limpele and Anastasia Russkikh.

And Cooper and Agathangelou went out in straight games with partners Chris Langridge and Robin Middleton respecitvely against Korean pairs.
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Tracey calls time on her glittering career

2009-02-26T14:10:00.002Z

TRACEY HALLAM today brought down the curtain on a glittering badminton career - just days before the start of the Yonex All England Championships in Birmingham.

The 33-year-old left-hander from Burton-on-Trent bows out with a string of successes to her name.

Topping the list is the Commonwealth Games gold medal she won in Melbourne in 2006 to make up for her disappointment in Manchester 2002 when she had to settle for the silver.

But she also won two English Nationals singles titles and one women’s doubles crown as well as titles on the international circuit to go with her 81 England appearances.

On the international circuit she won titles in France, Vietnam, Romania and Israel as recently as 2007 and Taipei in 2005. But perhaps her best performance at Open tournaments was in finishing runner-up at the 2006 Malaysian Open.

In 10 years at the top she climbed to No 7 in the world and reached the last eight in three consecutive world championships - 2005 in Anaheim, 2006 in Madrid and, after being sidelined for six months with a career-threatening ankle injury, the 2007 championships in Kuala Lumpur.

Tracey’s comeback was complete when she qualified for Great Britain's Olympic squad in Beijing and her second Olympics, having reached the quarter-finals in Athens in 2004 when she beat Denmark's former world champion Camilla Martin for the first time in the second round. In Beijing she reached the third round before bowing out.

She also helped England win the bronze medal at the Sudirman Cup world mixed team championships in Glasgow in 2007.

England head coach Ian Wright said: "We are sorry to lose Tracey. She has led the way in women's singles for the last eight years. She has been a credit to the sport, particularly with the way she fought back from her 2006 injury. She will be a hard player to replace but it has been a pleasure working with her.”

Tracey said: "Since the Olympics in Beijing I have had chance to take stock and I think now is the right time to stop. I have a lot of happy memories, particularly winning my first English National title by finally beating my great rival Julia Mann and then winning the Commonwealth gold medal. That made up for the disappointment of losing in 2002 against a player I had beaten in the team event.

“Having won a women’s doubles title at the 2008 English National Championships without any preparation, I would have like to have carried on playing doubles but it wasn’t to be.”

Tracey, who will be watching many of her former team-mates at next week’s Yonex All England Championships at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, said: “It’s a great tournament – it attracts the world’s best – and brings back many happy memories. But there are other tournaments which are also special. I have fond memories of my success in Taiwan and Vietnam and of reaching the Malaysian Open final.”
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Emms to lead Masterclass on Sky Sports

2009-02-26T11:28:00.002Z

Olympic medallist Gail Emms will lead a badminton masterclass to mark her new role as an athlete mentor for Sky Sports Living for Sport. The masterclass for young people from Idsall School, Shropshire will take place at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham on Monday 2 March, ahead of the All England Open from 3 to 8 March, which will be shown live on Sky Sports.

Sky Sports Living for Sport is a programme for secondary schools in the UK that uses sport to motivate and inspire young people who are at risk of opting out of school life. The free scheme www.skysports.com/livingforsport for 11 to 16 year olds was created by the Youth Sport Trust in partnership with Sky.

The badminton masterclasss, led by Gail Emms alongside National Head Coach Ian Wright, will take eight young people from Idsall School in Shropshire through badminton basics before putting them into singles and doubles matches. The young people will be encouraged to learn new skills from the athletes and discover the enjoyment that can be gained from taking part in sport.

Gail joins a team of athlete mentors led by Olympic gold medallist Darren Campbell, who provide help and advice to youngsters involved with the programme. The other mentors include:

• Nicola Minichiello, Bobsleigh, World Championship medallist and Olympian
• Helene Raynsford, Rowing, Paralympic medallist
• Joe Glanfield, Sailing, Olympic medallist
• Craig Heap, Gymnastics, Olympian and commonwealth medallist
• Tom Davis, Judo; 2012 hopeful
• Rachael Mackenzie, World Nr.1 Thai Boxer
• Tim Prendergast, Athletics (Middle distance), Paralympics medallist
• Michelle Robinson, Athletics (Triple Jump), Olympian
• Kerry Jane Williams, England Hockey, 2012 Hopeful
• Adam Whitehead, Swimming, Olympian and commonwealth medallist

Sky Sports Living for Sport is supported by the department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and encourages pupils to learn new sports and get involved in different activities connected with sport such as organising and running sports related events to develop new skills and confidence. Teachers use the scheme to help pupils work towards measurable self-development goals that help build interpersonal and leadership skills.

17,000 young people in over 600 schools have benefitted since the programme began in 2003 and over 200 schools have already signed up this year. The ambition of the project is for 2,000 schools and 30,000 young people to register with Sky Sports Living for Sport by 2012 and to build the activities into curricular and extra curricular activities.

Gail Emms, Sky Sports Living for Sport athlete mentor commented: “I am really looking forward to visiting schools and mentoring young people involved with the Sky Sports Living for Sport scheme. I was helped by a variety of people throughout my career and fully appreciate how positive an effect mentoring and sport can have on young people. The badminton masterclass should be a great introduction to the initiative for me.”

An independent study on the impact of Sky Sports Living for Sport carried out by The Institute of Youth Sport at Loughborough University provides some very encouraging figures: 68.7% of teachers reported the project had a positive impact on reducing bullying in their schools and 80% of pupils sustained positive impact at 12 and 24 months after the end of the project.*

Sky Sports has scheduled more than 20 hours of coverage of the All England Open including 15 hours of live coverage across the three days of competitive matches. Live coverage is as follows:

Friday 6 March Day One 5.30pm – 10.30pm Sky Sports 3
Saturday 7 March Day Two 12.30pm – 5.30pm Sky Sports Xtra
Sunday 8 March Day Three 12.30pm – 5.30pm Sky Sports Xtra
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England players in final warm-up for Birmingham

2009-02-24T09:37:00.000Z

WHILE Nathan Robertson and Anthony Clark start the countdown to their mixed doubles first-round showdown at next week's Yonex All England Championships, England's singles players head for Mulheim and last-minute tournament practice by tackling the Yonex German Open.

Two-time English National champion Rajiv Ouseph and this year's runner-up Carl Baxter are both in tomorrow's men's singles first round along with fifth seed Andrew Smith while Jamie Bonsels and Harry Wright tackle tomorrow's qualifying rounds.

Smith starts his bid against Canadian David Snider with Anand Pawar of India or Malaysian Daren Liew the second-round opponent.

Ouseph has a tough opener against eighth seed Dicky Palyama of Holland while Baxter meets a qualifier in a 64-man first round.

In the women's singles Sarah Walker must qualify but three-times National champion Elizabeth Cann meets Denmark's Nanna Brosolat Jensen. British squad rival Susan Hughes has an even tougher clash against Dutch No 2 Judith Meulendijks.

China have top seeds in both singles through Bao Chunlai and Zhu Lin.

But England are top seeds in the men's doubles in the shape of Richard Eidestedt and Andrew Ellis with Chris Adcock and Robert Blair the second seeds. Blair and Adcock are on course for an all-English second round clash with Chris Langridge and David Lindley if both pairs win their openers.

In the mixed doubles Sarah Bok and Gabby White have been unlucky to draw top seeded Koreans Lee Hyo Jung and Lee Kyung Won, the Yonex All England champions from Korea in the first round.

Mariana Agathangelou and Scotland's Jillie Cooper start against a qualifier - but a win will pit them against the Koreans or their GB training partners in the second round!

Robin Middleton and Agathangelou are third seeds in the mixed doubles qualifying and Andrew Ellis and Bok are in qualifying action with them today.

In the main draw Adcock and White are sixth seeds and start against Jorrit de Ruiter and Ilse Vaessen of Holland. But their big test lies in the quarter-finals when they could run into top seeds and Olympic champions Lee Yong Dae and Lee Hyo Jung.

England also have third seeds David Lindley and Suzanne Rayappan in the bottom half of the draw where they start against Indonesia's Flandy Limpele and Russia's Anastasia Russkikh. Langridge and Cooper open against a qualifer.
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Tickets selling fast for 99th Yonex All England

2009-02-23T14:40:00.001Z

WITH just over a week to go to the start of the 99th Yonex All England Championships, BADMINTON England are bracing themselves for a blockbuster tournament at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham.

Tickets for the finals on Sunday, March 8 are already sold out and the semi-finals on Saturday, March 7 are also virtually all gone.

The Championships start with the qualifying rounds in all five events, commencing at 11am on Tuesday March 3.

For the second year running, the qualifying rounds are open to the public, offering the chance to see many of England's top players like two-time English National men's singles champion Rajiv Ouseph and new National women's singles champion Jill Pittard in action.

They will be competing along with many international stars who have not clinched direct entry into the 32-strong main draw in this third BWF Super Series event of the year.

Pittard is one of the local stars in action – and is one of the few players in the world's top 50 to hold down a full-time job. The 31-year-old is an engineer at Land Rover in Coventry.

This year's line-up is one of the best ever with Olympic and world champions competing at the National Indoor Arena. China's world and Olympic champion Lin Dan is the star attraction with big names like Peter Gade, Lee Chong Wei and Taufik Hidayat out to stop him winning a fourth men's singles title.

Denmark's world No 1 Tine Rasmussen is back to defend her women's singles title.

Nearly 300 players from 34 nations will be taking part and tournament director Darren Parks, running his seventh consecutive All England at the NIA, said today: "It's incredible. Finals day was just about sold out even before we announced the entry list and there are now very few tickets left for the Saturday.

"That's how popular the Yonex All England Championships have become. Ticket sales are going so well that I urge fans to book now to get the seats they want.

"The fact that the Championships follow on closely from the English Nationals in Manchester and the European Team Championship in Liverpool in the last five weeks has really got the spectators excited about the All England."

To book tickets check out www.theticketfactory.com or telephone 0844 444 9994. Tickets are also available from the NIA box office during the event

Tickets are on offer in a range of prices with discounts for BADMINTON England members, senior citizens and students.
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Home hopes out of luck in Yonex All England draw

2009-02-17T16:02:00.004Z

THE luck of the draw deserted England's two big hopes for the Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham from February March 3-8.

Just two days after helping Team England win the silver medal at the European Team Championship at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England's European champions and fourth seeds Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg, the 2007 runners-up, were drawn against their team-mates, 2005 champion Nathan Robertson and new partner Jenny Wallwork, in the first round of the mixed doubles.

And the winners could face another England pair in teenage stars Chris Adcock and Gabby White in the second round.

On top of that Anglo-Scottish pair Robert Blair and Imogen Bankier, who are the seventh seeds, must take on England's world No 16 pair David Lindley and Suzanne Rayappan in the first round.

But it wasn't only England who were out of luck. Three-times champion Lin Dan is on course to meet his team-mate Bao Chunlai in the second round of the men's singles if the world and Olympic champion overcomes a qualifier and Bao beats Dutchman Eric Pang in the opening round of the men's singles. China's third seed Chen Jin, who beat Lin Dan in last year's final, starts his title defence against Japan's Kenichi Tago.

Andrew Smith, the hero of England's valiant bid to beat Denmark on Sunday with his win over world No. 6 Joachim Persson, is the only home player in the main draw of the men's singles and he faces India's Chetan Anand in the first round.

Two-time English National champion Rajiv Ouseph and runner-up Carl Baxter both have to qualify. Ouseph faces Ireland's Scott Evans while Baxter meets India's Anand Pawar, who beat him in the Bank of Scotland quarter-finals in Novermber before Ouseph defeated the Indian player in the final.

In the women's singles Jersey's Elizabeth Cann is the only English player in the main draw and she faces a tough opener against seventh seed Wang Lin of China. Scotland's Commonwealth bronze medallist Susan Hughes will face a qualifier. English National champion Jill Pittard meets Finland's third qualifying seed Anu Nieminen in the first round of qualifying.

In the men's doubles Clark and Robertson are seeded eighth and face a tricky opener against Korea's Han Sang Hoon and Hwang Ji Man. England have three other pairs in the main draw with Chris Adcock and Robert Blair in the same quarter as Clark and Robertson. Adock and Blair face Simon Mollyhus and Anders Kristiansen of Denmark in their opening match.

Lindley and Chris Langridge will fancy their chances against Dutch pair Jorrit De Ruiter and Jurgen Wouters but Andrew Eidestedt and Andrew Ellis face a tough time against Malaysian third seeds Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong, the 2007 champions.

In the women's doubles Wallwork and Gabby White face Malaysians Goh Liu Ying and Ng Hui Lin while England also have a second pair through to the main draw in Heather Olver and Samantha Ward, who take on Japan's Fujii Mizuki and Reika Kakiiwa.

The entry for the 99th Yonex All England Open championship is one of the strongest on record and tournament director Darren Parks is urging fans to book early. "We have a terrific entry," he said. "It is like a Who's Who of current world stars."

Tickets are available from www.theticketfactory.com or call 0844 444 9994. Don't forget tickets are available for the qualifying rounds on Tuesday March 3 as well as the main draw.

Yonex All England Seeds

Men's singles: Women's singles:
1 Lee Chong Wei (Mas) 1 Tine Rasmussen (Den)
2 Lin Dan (Chn) 2 Zhou Mi (Hkg)
3 Chen Jin (Chn) 3 Lu Lan (Chn)
4 Peter Gade (Den) 4 Pi Hongyan (Fra)
5 Sony Dwi Kuncoro (Ina) 5 Xie Xingfang (Chn)
6 Joachim Persson (Den) 6 Zhu Lin (Chn)
7 Taufik Hidayat ((Ina) 7 Wang Lin (Chn)
8 Przemyslaw Wacha (Pol) 8 Xu Huaiwen (Ger)

Men's doubles:
1 Markis Kido & Hendra Setiawan (Ina)
2 Lars Paaske & Jonas Rasmussen (Den)
3 Koo Kien Keat & Tan Boon Heong (Mas)
4 Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif & Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari (Mas)
5 Mathias Boe & Carsten Mogensen (Den)
6 Lee Yong Dae & Shin Baek Choel
7 Cai Yun & Fu Haifeng (Chn)
8 Anthony Clark & Nathan Robertson (Eng)

Women's doubles:
1 Cheng Wen Hsing & Chien Yu Chin (Tpe)
2 Chin Eei Hui & Wong Pei Tty (Mas)
3 Lee Hyo Jung & Lee Kyung Won (Kor)
4 Du Jing & Yu Yang (Chn)
5 Ha Jung Eun & Kim Min Jung (Kor)
6 Lena Frier Kristiansen & Kamilla Rytter Juhl (Den)
7 Zhang Yawen & Zhao Tingting (Chn)
8 Shendy Puspa Irawati & Greysia Polii (Ina)

Mixed doubles:
1 Nova Widianto & Liliyana Natsir (Ina)
2 Lee Yong Dae & Lee Hyo Jung (Kor)
3 He Hanbin & Yu Yang (Chn)
4 Anthony Clark & Donna Kellogg (Eng)
5 Thomas Laybourn & Kamilla Rytter Juhl (Den)
6 Joachim Fischer Nielsen & Christinna Pedersen (Den)
7 Robert Blair (Eng) & Imogen Bankier (Sco)
8 Sudket Prapakamol & Saralee Thoungthongkam (Tha)

COMPETITION PROGRAMME:
Tuesday, March 3: Qualifying rounds 11am-10pm approx (5 courts)
Wednesday, March 4: First rounds from 10am-10pm approx (5 courts)
Thursday, March 5: Second rounds from10am-10pm approx (3 courts, interval 4pm-5pm)
Friday, March 6: Quarter-finals from 5pm-10.30pm approx (3 courts)
Saturday, March 7: Semi-finals from 12.30pm-5pm approx (2 courts)
Sunday, March 8: Finals from 12.30pm-5pm approx (1 court)
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Bumper entry for Yonex All England

2009-02-17T00:20:00.001Z

THE 99th Yonex All England Championship organisers were celebrating today after receiving a star-studded entry for the tournament at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham from March 3-8.

The entry for the first Super Series event of the year in Europe includes four of the gold medal winners at the Beijing Olympics with double women’s singles winner Zhang Ning (China) the only player missing.

World champion Lin Dan, who was men’s singles runner-up last year, will be back to bid for his fourth All England title in six years, while Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia will be out to add the All England men’s doubles title to their Olympic gold and 2007 world title.

In the women’s doubles China’s Olympic winners Du Jing and Yu Yang will be aiming to improve on their runners-up spot in Birmingham last year but they will once against be up against defending champions Lee Hyo Jung and Lee Kyung Won.

In the mixed doubles Lee Yong Dae and Lee Hyo Jung, the Korean pair who defeated Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms on the way to the OIympic mixed title, will be the pair to beat although double world champions and Olympic silver medallists Nova Widianto and Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia will be among those out to stop them.

But there aren’t just Olympic champions on parade as the quality of the entry reflects the pulling power of the world’s oldest and most prestigious tournament.

Denmark’s world No. 1 Tine Rasmussen will be defending her women’s singles title and will be up against world champion Zhu Lin of China.

Her Danish team-mate, the 1999 All England winner Peter Gade, will come to Birmingham fresh from his resurgent Korean Open final victory over World No 1 Lee Chong Wei, who has never been beyond the semi-finals in Birmingham.

But last year’s men’s singles winner Chen Jin will be another to watch in the men’s singles where England’s world No 21 Andrew Smith (Hants) is in the main draw along with Canadian Carl Baxter (Avon). Two-time National champion Rajiv Ouseph (Middlesex) will have to qualify, such is the strength of the men’s entry.

In the mixed doubles Zheng Bo, winner in 2007 and 2008 with Gao Ling, will try for another title with new partner Ma Jin.

Many of the players who this week have been competing in Liverpool at the European Team Championship have entered – including England stars Nathan Robertson and Anthony Clark (both Notts) in men’s doubles. They will be supported by Robert Blair (Leics) and Chris Adcock (Notts), Richard Eidestedt (Bucks) and Andrew Ellis (Yorks) and David Lindley (Notts) and Chris Langridge (Surrey).

But England’s strength in depth comes once again in the mixed where European champions Clark and Donna Kellogg (Derbyshire) and Blair and Imogen Bankier (Scotland) can expect to be seeded. Robertson will also be in the mix with new partner Jenny Wallwork, along with world No 16s David Lindley (Notts) and Suzanne Rayappan (Herts) and young prospects Chris Adcock and Gabby White (Yorks) will be out to make their mark.

In the women’s singles Jersey’s Elizabeth Cann is in the main draw but new National champion Jill Pittard (Warwicks) must qualify.

But England have four pairs in the main draw of the women’s doubles with Yorkshire pair Wallwork and White leading the way.

Tournament Director Darren Parks said: “We couldn’t have wished for a stronger entry. It’s a great chance to see the England and GB players test themselves against the best of the rest.”

COMPETITION PROGRAMME:

Tuesday, March 3: Qualifying rounds 11am-10pm approx (5 courts)
Wednesday, March 4: First rounds from 10am-10pm approx (5 courts)
Thursday, March 5: Second rounds from10am-10pm approx (3 courts, interval 4pm-5pm)
Friday, March 6: Quarter-finals from 5pm-10.30pm approx (3 courts)
Saturday, March 7: Semi-finals from 12.30pm-5pm approx (2 courts)
Sunday, March 8: Finals from 12.30pm-5pm approx (1 court)
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Denmark overcome early setback to clinch Euro title

2009-02-17T00:15:00.002Z

By Raphael Sachetat, Badminton World Federation

Denmark overcame a 0/2 lead from England to clinch their 8th title in a row, beating the local heroes in a thrilling final.

The English squad couldn’t be more disappointed. So close, yet so far. Things had started off the best way for England, with Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg against an unexpected line up in the name of Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christina Pedersen, the second best pair in Denmark, when everyone thought Kamilla Rytter Juhl and Thomas Laybourn would have been featured.

But the purpose was obviously to give the youngsters experience, as a result of which, Clark and Kellogg gave England a winning start with a 21/10 – 23/21 victory. But the biggest surprise of the day saw Andrew Smith beat Joachim Persson in the second match.

Persson was way favourite in spite of his lack of form lately, but Smith played beautifully in the first game while Persson had trouble getting the engine starting. In the second game, Persson had gotten his game together and led 18/15 but Smith was helped by the local fans, who shouted “out” back to back on one of Persson’s long shuttle.

The English may have played one of them, but instead let it drop to get the point. Few minutes later, Persson was arguing for a dubious line call, which got him aggravated, frustrated with his play as well as the lack of luck towards the end. Smith scored 5 points to lead 20/18 after Persson lost focus and in spite of one match point saved by the Dane, Smith was giving an unexpected lead to his team-mates.

“Joachim has not been playing as well lately as he had at the end of last year, he is in a bit of a slump. He played too much in Smith’s strength tonight. Hopefully, we’ll have enough time to prepare for the All England. But at that stage, at 0/2, We knew it would then be difficult for us to win, but we remained focused and confident,” said Kenneth Jonassen, acting as a coach for the first time.

“But then, Tine put it back together and got us back on track as she was way above Elisabeth Cann. It gave us some confidence.” added Jonassen.

The world number one indeed didn’t have to push her talent to outplay Elisabeth Cann, who was trailing during the whole match for a final 21/14 – 21/10 score.

The men’s doubles promised to be a battle of the nerves between the experienced Nathan Robertson and Clark – who had done an astonishing job in the mixed – and the less experienced Mathias Boe and Casrten Mogensen – who still have been involved in some important matches before, even if they were not necessarily the leading pair in the squad at the time.

And the Danes delivered, winning in three hard fought games 21/17 – 16/21 – 21/15, at the great satisfaction of their coach : “I think the key to this tie was the men’s doubles. Carsten and Matthias played very well in the first and deciding game. They proved they could focus but most importantly that they gained a lot on mental strength,” said Jonassen.

“At 2/2, we were then relying on the women’s double. We believed in Kamilla’s experience and Maria’s good defense and mobility,” added the Dane.

And the last and deciding point was an undecided battle between Kellogg and Jenny Wallwork against Juhl and Roepke. Although the “rookie” Roepke was nervous, she overcame it quickly – and became rather confident through out the match.

“I was nervous at the beginning but then we played well so it was ok,” said Roepke, the daughter of the legend Lene Koppen.

“ I knew that they were nervous too. On my hand, I had played in team events in the Uber Cup in the Netherlands and then in Indonesia last year, while Jenny didn’t,” added Roepke.

She and Juhl gave no chance to their opponents, who tried to play on Roepke rather than her taller partner, but it wasn’t sufficient to destabilise the Danes, who went on to a 21/14 – 21/15 success before standing on the top spot of the podium together with their team-mates, for the 8th time in a row.

“I am very satisfied with this victory, of course, because we won, of course, but also because we were here to test some players under a new kind of pressure. The mixed, for instance, tonight had never been under such a team pressure before. And all through out the week, some showed some some mental strength, and for others, we’ll need to work a bit more on that aspect of their game, but overall it was a great experience for the players,” said Jonassen.
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England shattered by Denmark fightback

2009-02-15T21:17:00.000Z

Team England's dream of winning the European Team Championship turned into a nightmare last night as they saw a surprise 2-0 lead turn into a 3-2 defeat by Denmark in the final at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.

European champions and world No 4 pair Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg gave England a flying start by winning the mixed doubles then World No 21 Andrew Smith got the better of world No 6 Joachim Persson for the first time in eight men's singles meetings.

Smith had lost to Persson in the 3-0 defeat in last year's final in Denmark but in the Echo Arena he turned in a tenacious display.

Although world No 1 and Yonex All England champion Tine Rasmussen put Denmark's first point on the board when she defeated Elizabeth Cann, the Center Parcs supported Team England squad still had high hopes going into the men's doubles.

But Clark and Nathan Robertson, winning his 97th cap, could not quite get the better of Carsten Mogensen and Mathias Boe.

That left it at 2-2 and Kellogg and Jenny Wallwork were left with the task of winning the deciding rubber just as they had done the night before in the semi-finals against Poland.

But Kamilla Rytter Juhl and Lene Koppen's daughter Marie Roepke were too strong for them and won 21-14 21-15 to complete the fightback.

England head coach Ian Wright was clearly dispirited. "We got a good start but we need to be finishing off matches like this,"he said.

"We showed a lot of guts in the way we played against Poland but I am very disappointed that we couldn't finish off Denmark. We came here for the gold medal, we had the chance, but we didn't take it.

"We have the talent coming through, we have the coaches and the facilities but we need the team to be tougher – like Denmark were tonight.

"For us Jenny Wallwork has been excellent this week and Andrew Smith played well today but he needs to be more consistent and he knows that."

Denmark 3 England 2
(Denmark names first)

Men's Singles
Joachim Persson lost to Andrew Smith 21-16 21-19

Women's Singles
Tine Rasmussen bt Elizabeth Cann 21-14 21-10

Men's Doubles
Mathias Boe & Carsten Mogensen bt Anthony Clark & Nathan Robertson
21-17 16-21 21-15

Women's Doubles
Kamilla Juhl & Marie Roepke bt Donnna Kellogg & Jennifer Wallwork 21-14 21-15

Mixed Doubles
Christinna Pedersen & Joachim Fischer Nielsen lost to Anthony Clark & Donna Kellogg 21-10 23-21.
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Kellogg & Wallwork rescue England's golden dream

2009-02-15T14:57:00.002Z

DONNA KELLOGG (Derbyshire) and Jenny Wallwork (Yorks) saved Team England’s gold medal hopes in the European Team Championship semi-finals at the Echo Arena in Liverpool tonight.

After a four-hour battle with Poland the second seeds won 3-2 to book a final rematch with holders and 12-times winners Denmark, who beat Russia 3-0 in the morning semi-final.

But England, who lost to the Danes in last year’s final in Herning, were taken all the way by Poland and needed a nail-biting three-game win by Kellogg and Wallwork over Kamila Augustyn and Malgorzata Kurdelska in the women’s doubles to make it into tomorrow’s final.

Last year they beat Poland 3-0 in the semi-finals but this time it was a different story despite Kellogg and Anthony Clark (Notts) winning the opening mixed doubles 21-15 21-9 against Michal Logosz and Natalia Pocztowiak.

But Poland levelled it when World No 9 Przemyslaw Wacha defeated World No 21 Andrew Smith (Hants) 21-11 22-20 in the men’s singles before Jersey’s three-times National champion Elizabeth Cann came back from a game down to defeat Augustyn 4-21 21-4 21-9 in the women’s singles.

Poland wouldn’t lie down, however, and Logosz and Robert Mateusiak, the world No 10 pair, were too sharp and aggressive for a subdued Nathan Robertson (Notts) and Clark.

That made it 2-2 and it all hinged on the women’s doubles. Kellogg and Wallwork took the opener 21-12 but Augustyn and Kurdelska came back strongly in the second 21-17 before the England pair edged home 21-12 to put England into the final with Denmark at 2pm tomorrow.

A delighted Cann, who won the crucial singles point, revealed she was given a talking to by coach Yvette Yun Luo after losing the first game. “I wasn’t sticking to the tactics,” she said. “So she was just drumming it in. It worked, didn’t it!”

Head coach Ian Wright said: “We knew it would be a hard slog and it was. The Poles played well but we stuck at it. I am particularly pleased that some of our younger players stepped up to the plate which is what we wanted them to do in this tournament.

“I thought Jenny Wallwork was excellent and, of course, Donna Kellogg’s experience was vital.

“Now we are in with a chance of the gold and we have home advantage. It’s 1984 since we last won it and it’s time we reclaimed the title.”
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Denmark storm into European Team final

2009-02-14T13:16:00.001Z

Denmark remain on course for their eighth successive European Team Championship title after a comfortable 3-0 win over sixth seeds Russia in the first semi-final at the Echo Arena in Liverpool this morning.

The Danes have now reached the European final 14 times in a row and look to record their 13th gold medal tomorrow when they will meet Team England or Poland.

Mixed doubles stars Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Rytter Juhl set the tone for the session after a comfortable 21-13 21-16 win over Vitaly Durkin and Nina Vislova.

World Number 6 Joachim Persson then displayed why he is one of the world's top singles players with an excellent display of patience, agility and power to beat Ivan Sozonov 21-14 21-12 in the men's doubles.

This win for Persson showed he is back on form after his defeat to world number 103 Pablo Abian of Spain in the group stages. That defeat still stands as one of the upsets of the tournament.

It was then left to World No 1 Tine Rasmussen to wrap up the victory with a 21-18 21-7 win over a very resilient and gutsy opponent in Russia's Ella Diehl.

Rasmussen got off to a slow start and the first game could have gone either way, but Rasmussen showed why she is the worlds best at women's singles with a phenomenal second-game performance.

Coach Kenneth Jonassen would give no indication of the line-up for tomorrow's final, but with the clinical performance of his players in today's match, there is little reason for him to change much.

Denmark will play Team England or Poland in tomorrow's final, last year's runners-up hoping that home advantage will give them the edge as they aim to beat Poland and then overcome the Danes for the first time in these championships since 1984 in Preston.

Second semi-final (3pm): Team England v Poland.
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Team England beat Ukraine to reach semi-finals

2009-02-13T22:23:00.003Z

TEAM ENGLAND are through to the semi-finals of the European Team Championships in Echo Arena, Liverpool.

Ian Wright's squad overcame the Ukraine 3-1 to earn a repeat semi-final with Poland, the team they beat 3-0 last year in Herning (Denmark).

The English pairing of Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork got the hosts off to a great start in the mixed doubles with a 21-9 21-14 win over Valeriy Atrashchenkov and Elena Prus.

World No. 21 Andrew Smith made it 2-0 with victory over Dmytro Zavadskyy 17-21 21-15 21-18 in 52 minutes.

Ukraine's only point of the match came as Larisa Griga beat a brave Elizabeth Cann. World No 22 Griga, who is 12 places above Cann in the world rankings, won 21-15 21-19 in an entertaining match.

However, any thoughts of a Ukrainian revival were put to bed as Chris Adcock and Robert Blair secured the third and decisive point for Team England after their 21-14 21-12 victory against the Ukrainian pair Valery Atrashchenkov and Vladislav Druzchenko in the men's doubles.

Victorious Blair, winning his 49th cap, was pleased with his team's performance and sees no reason why they can't progress to the final. He said: "We worked hard and came through tonight. I think we will be too strong for Poland tomorrow but they have some good male players."

The England team for the semi-final is:

Mixed doubles: Anthony Clark & Donna Kellogg, Men's singles: Andrew Smith, Women's singles: Elizabeth Cann, Men's doubles: Anthony Clark & Nathan Robertson, Women's doubles: Donna Kellogg & Jenny Wallwork.

In the other quarter-finals tonight fourth seeds Poland recorded a 3-1 victory over fifth seeds Netherlands and holders and 12-times winners Denmark were too strong for seventh seeds France, emerging 3-1 winners.

It was left to Russia to spring the one surprise, the sixth seeds coming from behind to defeat third seeds Germany 3-2.

Team England name beat Scots to reach last eight

2009-02-12T22:25:00.001Z

TEAM ENGLAND booked their place in the quarter-finals of the European Team Championship at the Echo Arena in Liverpool tonight with a 4-1 win over Scotland.

The 2008 runners-up and second seeds, watched by Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe, will now face eighth seeds Ukraine in the last eight tomorrow night.

The English pairing of Robert Blair and Gabrielle White got the Center Parcs supported home side off to the perfect start against Blair's former team-mates. In a match that lasted just under 30 minutes, the English mixed doubles duo had to work hard in the first game but finally defeated Watson Briggs and Imogen Bankier 22-20 21-11.

Bankier is Blair's mixed doubles partner on the international circuit but he said: "It wasn't too hard playing against Imogen, but it wasn't under normal circumstances. It's more difficult playing against your own country, it's a difficult situation.

"I have played with Gabby before, but we were a bit confused. There were things she may have expected me to do and things I expected her to do, but we didn't do it so we got in a bit of a muddle. The second set was quite comfortable and we got more used to each other's style of play".

Two-times English National champion Rajiv Ouseph had to work to overcome 19-year-old Kieran Merrilees 21-13 21-18 in the men's singles.

However, Scotland's Commonwealth bronze medallist Susan Hughes ensured that Dan Travers' team avoided a whitewash in an entertaining duel with England's Elizabeth Cann. Hughes, who beat Cann in their Melbourne play-off and also beat her in the Dunfermline Open in January, kept Cann on the back foot throughout the match and eventually ran out 21-12 15-21 21-17 victor.

Scotland continued to battle valiantly after they took a game off England's National champions Anthony Clark and Nathan Robertson but eventually went down 21-13 22-24 21-7.

In the other game in Group 8, Wales' Matthew Hughes received his 100th cap and marked the occasion in the men's doubles by winning 21-11 21-15 with partner Martyn Lewis. However, it was to be in vain as Wales lost the match 3-2 against the Czech Republic with Kristina Ludikova the standout performer for the Czechs.

Denmark did not hold back against Ireland in the final match of Group 1, winning 5-0. Ireland's Chloe Magee had game point early on against Nanna Brosolat Jensen but the Dane, ranked 46 in the world, rallied back to earn a 24-22 21-15 victory.

Germany ended their last round of group games in emphatic fashion after also securing a 5-0 whitewash against Sweden.

Despite some rigid Bulgarian resistance Poland successfully qualified from Group 6 and will now play Netherlands in the quarter finals tomorrow.

All eight seeds are through to the quarter-finals, starting at 6pm.

QUARTER-FINAL LINE-UP
(1) Denmark v (7) France
(3) Germany v (6) Russia
(4) Poland v (5) Netherlands
(2) England v (8) Ukraine
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Team England name team to face Scotland

2009-02-12T12:43:00.001Z

TEAM ENGLAND head coach Ian Wright has named former Scotland international Robert Blair and Yorkshire's Gabby White for the mixed doubles in the Group 8 decider with the Scots at the European Team Championship at the Echo Arena in Liverpool tonight.

Edinburgh-born Blair wins his 48th England cap tonight as the second seeds look to book their quarter-final place and a likely clash with eighth seeds Ukraine tomorrow night.

Middlesex's Rajiv Ouseph and Jersey's Elizabeth Cann return for the singles duties against Scotland, taking over from Andrew Smith and the Wirral's Helen Davies, who made her home debut for England last night in the 5-0 win over the Czech Republic.

National champions Nathan Robertson and Anthony Clark (both Notts) will play the men's doubles while Jenny Wallwork will partner Donna Kellogg in the women's doubles.

Scotland's six-strong squad features Kieran Merrilees in men's singles, Susan Hughes in women's doubles, with Andrew Bowman and Watson Briggs and Imogen Bankier and Jillie Cooper handling the doubles duties.

Intriguingly Blair and Bankier are mixed doubles partners on the world circuit and are in the World's top 10.
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England win again to set up decider with Scotland

2009-02-12T00:01:00.002Z

By DANIEL SMITH

Team England’s Andrew Smith and Helen Davies were clinical in setting up yet another victory for the hosts at the European Team Championship at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.

England No 1 Smith (Hampshire) was ruthless against Wales’ Irwansyah in the men’s singles, outplaying his opponent 21-8 21-10.

Meanwhile the Wirral’s Davies was not to be outdone and also put in a superb performance winning 21-13 21-17 against Harriet Johnson.

The 22-year-old, watched by Mum Liz and Dad Phil (who was seeing her in action for the first time), admitted: “I was nervous at the start but my coach had told me that I had to attack her before she attacked me.

“It was a good learning experience and, of course, it’s always good to win.”

With England 2-0 up it was left 2004 European men’s doubles silver medallists Anthony Clark and Nathan Robertson (both Notts) to clinch the winning lead as they defeated Matthew Hughes and Martyn Lewis 21-12 21-5.

Jersey’s Mariana Agathangelou and Yorkshire’s Jenny Wallwork took the women’s doubles and Chris Adcock and Gabby White won the mixed doubles as England made it straight-games victories in all five matches.

Tomorrow night Team England, who are supported by Center Parcs, tackle the Group 8 decider against Scotland. They were in action against the Czech Republic on the adjacent court.

The Scots got off to a good start through Watson Briggs and Imogen Bankier, who beat Petr Koukal and Martina Benesova 21-10 24-22.

And when Kieran Merrilees took the first game against Jan Vondra in the men’s singles, the Scots’ tails were up.

But the 19-year-old could not resist Vondra’s strong fightback and he levelled the match 15-21 21-13 21-16.

However, Commonwealth bronze medallist Susan Hughes took charge of her match with Kristina Ludikova to put the Scots back in front after a 21-16 21-12 win and Briggs returned to the court with Andrew Bowman to win the men’s doubles against Vondra and Pavel Florian 21-10 22-20 to give Dan Travers’ team a winning lead.

It was then left to Bankier and Jillie Cooper to finish the job 21-14 21-16 against Ludikova and Benesova for a 4-1 win.

In Group 6 seventh seeds France were dealt a scare when they came up against a fired-up Portuguese outfit. The French were in good spirits after their first win however Portugal’s Pedro Martins was out to spoil the party in the men’s singles.
Martins’ determination, speed and energy proved to be the deciding factor against Brice Leverdez as he left the court with a deserved 21-19 11-21 21-13 win.

That levelled the scores after France won the opening mixed doubles. But Pi Hongyan put the French ahead and they never looked back as Baptiste Careme added a men’s doubles win to his mixed doubles victory and France then won the women’s doubles to make it 4-1.

Switzerland comprehensively defeated Cyprus 5-0 in the other Group 6 match.

The Netherlands’ Patty Stolzenbach showed no mercy for her opponent Mor Bitterman in their 5-0 win over Israel in Group 5.

Stolzenbach won 21-3 21-1 in the women’s singles in 12 minutes, the shortest match of the Championship, as Holland surged to a 4-0 lead before Israel snatched the last rubber through Misha and Svetlana Zilberman, who defeated Jorrit De Ruiter and Isle Vaessen 11-21 21-16 21-19.

In Group 5 Austria went down 4-1 to Belgium with Nathalie Descamps leading the way with a mixed doubles and a women’s singles win.
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Team England kick off with 5-0 win

2009-02-10T21:45:00.002Z

TEAM ENGLAND got their European Team challenge off to a perfect start with a 5-0 win over the Czech Republic at the Echo Arena in Liverpool tonight.

Fittingly, European and three-times English National champions Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg got the team off the ideal start with a 21-9 21-8 win over Pavel Florian and Martina Bensova. That was a nice way for Kellogg to cap her 80th England appearance.

National singles champion Rajiv Ouseph followed up with a 21-17 21-10 victory over Petr Koukal and Jersey's Elizabeth Cann clinched the winning lead with a battling 21-17 21-19 victory over Kristina Ludikova.

Chris Adcock and Robert Blair, winning his 47th cap, took the men's doubles with a 21-13 21-8 victory over Jan Vondra and Pavel Florian.

It was left to Jenny Wallwork and Gabby White to complete the clean sweep but the Leeds pair did it the hard way, coming back from 11-6 and 13-9 down in the deciding game to win 21-18 18-21 21-14.

England, the second seeds and 2008 runners-up, are back in action tomorrow night when they face Wales in their second Group 8 contest.

The Welsh lost 4-1 to Scotland in their group opener, Irwansyah collecting their only win in the men's singles when he beat 19-year-old Welsh Open runner-up Kieran Merrilees 21-19 21-19 in a 34-minute duel that turned out to be the longest clash with the match.

That made it 1-1 after Watson Briggs and Imogen Bankier had won their mixed doubles clash with Martyn Lewis and Caroline Harvey 21-9 25-23. Dan Travers' squad then took the next three rubbers to seal the 4-1 win.

Commonwealth bronze medallist Susan Hughes won 21-15 21-5 in just 18 minutes against Harvey, Briggs and Andrew Bowman beat Lewis and Matthew Hughes 21-18 21-19 while Bankier and Jillie Cooper toppled Harriet Johnson and Kerry Ann Sheppard 21-11 21-10.

In other matches Belarus overpowered Norway 5-0 in Group 4 helped by two wins each for men's doubles pair Aliaksei Konakh (who also won the mixed) and Yauheni Yakauchuk (who also won the men's singles).

And there was a 5-0 win for eighth seeds Ukraine over Italy in Group 7 where Iceland edged the last match of the night when they beat Hungary 3-2 by winning the deciding mixed doubles 21-15 21-13 as Helgi Johannesson and Tinna Helgadottir beat Henrik Toth and Krisztina Adam.
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Estonia push Sweden on Day One in Liverpool

2009-02-10T18:37:00.002Z

Sweden were given a scare as the European Team Championship got under way this afternoon at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.

The 1992 and 1994 champions were in danger of an early defeat as world
No 45 Kati Tolmoff won her women's singles against Sophia Hansson 21-8 21-12 to follow up Raul Must's men's singles win over Henri Hurskainen 21-10 16-21 21-15.

Estonia had lost the opening mixed doubles but the two singles wins put them 2-1 up – and in the men's doubles Ants Mangel and Raul Kasner took the first game before Joel Johansson-Berg and Johan Kasperi hit back to level the match with a 19-21 2-18 21-11 win after 41 minutes.

That left the women's doubles to come and Tolmoff and Karoliine Hoim took the first game 22-20 only for Emma Wengberg and Elin Bergblom to turn the tables by taking the next two games 21-16 21-17 and give Sweden victory after the first session's longest match of 42 minutes.

Fourth seeds Poland, who could face second seeds Team England in the semi-finals if they both progress through the group stages and the quarter-finals, easily overcame Lithuania 4-1 in Group 6 helped by wins for world No 9 Przemyslaw Wacha in the men's singles and the experience of doubles stars Michal Logosz (with Wojciech Szkudlarkczyk) in the men's doubles and Robert Mateusiak and Kamilla Augustyn in the mixed.

Their only reverse came when Anna Narel lost the women's singles to Akvile Stapusailyte 21-19 21-18.

Fifth seeds Holland, who will meet Poland in the quarter-finals if they both come through their groups, had no trouble brushing aside Austria 5-0 in Group 5 although Peter Zauner and Michael Lahnsteiner made Jurgen Wouters and Koen Ridder work for their 21-17 28-26 in the longest match of the contest – 32 minutes.

In the other Group 5 match Belgium were too strong for Israel and also won 5-0.

Two-time European women's singles champion Xu Huaiwen clocked up the fastest win to date In the Group 3 contest between third seeds Germany and Slovakia, taking just 16 minutes to power past Zuzana Orlovska 21-7 21-9 as the Germans won 5-0.
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Team England go for Youth & Experience

2009-02-10T16:38:00.001Z

TEAM ENGLAND will rely on a blend of youth and experience when they go into their opening contest against the Czech Republic at the European Team Badminton Championship at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on Tuesday night.

Manager Ian Wright has picked European and three-times English National champions Anthony Clark (Notts) and Donna Kellogg (Derbyshire) in the mixed doubles. The pair have 161 caps between them and will be the driving force in the line-up.

The singles berths go to three-times National champion Elizabeth Cann (Jersey) and Rajiv Ouseph (Middlesex), who retained his National title at Manchester Velodrome eight days ago.

The men’s doubles responsibilities in the Center Parcs-supported Team England rest with Robert Blair (Leics) and teenager Chris Adcock (Notts) while the women’s doubles duties go to Leeds pair Gabby White and Jenny Wallwork (both Yorks). Both these pairs were runners-up at the Nationals.

Wright said: “We want to rotate Anthony, Rob and Nathan (Robertson) in the group stages so Chris Adcock is likely to play all three group matches.

“We are in confident mood but not over-confident. We know the Czechs have strong singles players and we know the Scottish squad have improved a lot because several of them do their GB training at Milton Keynes.

“We will not be taking any of the matches lightly,” added Wright, whose squad face Wales on Wednesday night and Scotland on Thursday night.

Team England, runners-up last year in Herning, are second seeds behind 12-time winners and holders Denmark. If they top Group Eight they will go into the knockout quarter-finals on Friday night. The semi-finals are on Saturday and the finals on Sunday.

Thirty-two nations will be competing in the first European Championships to be staged in England since Preston in 1984 – and all have arrived safely in Liverpool despite the weekend’s troubles with the weather.

The teams are divided into eight groups of four with the nation topping each group making up the eight quarter-finalists.

TEAM ENGLAND
Men’s singles: Rajiv Ouseph (Middlesex, age 22, caps 22)
Women’s singles: Elizabeth Cann (Jersey, age 29, caps 22)
Men’s doubles:
Chris Adcock (Notts, age 19, caps 4) & Robert Blair (Leics, age 27, caps 46)
Women’s doubles:
Gabby White (Yorks, age 18, caps 3) & Jenny Wallwork (Yorks, age 22, caps 11)
Mixed doubles:
Anthony Clark (Notts, age 31, caps 82) & Donna Kellogg (Derbyshire, age 31, caps 79)

Pittard triumphs at last in English Nationals thriller

2009-02-01T20:12:00.001Z

COVENTRY'S Jill Pittard stole the show on finals day at the English National Badminton Championships at Manchester Velodrome this afternoon when she finally won the women's singles title after three final defeats.

But on a day when European mixed doubles champions Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg made it a hat-trick of titles, Kellogg won her third women's doubles title in a row and her seventh in total, and Rajiv Ouseph retained his men's singles crown, Pittard lifted her first title but not before putting her fans through the wringer.

It took her seven match points to get the better of three-time champion Elizabeth Cann, the Jersey player and England No. 1 who inflicted one of those three final defeats on Pittard two years ago.

The Land Rover calibration engineer won the first game 21-19, dropped the second 14-21 and looked to be home and dry at 20-17 in the third. But Cann pulled back to 20-20 and then saved six match points before gaining the first of two match points for herself at 24-23 and again at 25-24.

But Pittard wouldn't be denied and on her seventh match point she finally saw her dream come true by winning 27-25 after a 57-minute final.

Pittard, who was dropped from the England squad last summer and is not in the team to tackle the European Team Championship in Liverpool from February 10-15, said being left out made her more determined to win. And her celebrations at the end showed how delighted she was.

"I shouldn't be winning this title at 31," she said. "And I don't know whether I'll be back next year. I only wanted to win it once. There aren't many people who work full time and get to four National finals. And I shouldn't be winning as a full-time worker and a part-time player.

"But I knew I had one more chance. I owe a big thanks to Mike Adams at Loughborough and Lorraine Cole in Birmingham. After I'd been dropped from the England squad I would have had nowhere to train but for them.

"Maybe the England selectors will take note, especially with the Sudirman Cup and the World Championships coming up this year."

Looking back on the final she said: "When I got to 20-17 in the third I thought 'I can't lose with three match points'. But she got back and Pittard had to dig deep before her final dream came true.

Ouseph (Middlesex) eased to a straight game victory over world No 35 Carl Baxter, the Winnipeg-born Avon player who was playing in his first Nationals. Ouseph didn't drop a game on the way to the title, beating Baxter 21-16 21-15.

Finals day began with Clark and Kellogg winning their third mixed title against Chris Langridge and Sarah Bok, the pair who had not won a game together, let alone a match, going into these Nationals. They put up a spirited display against the World No4 pair but Clark and Kellogg won 21-10 21-19.

Kellogg's women's doubles title defence was far less straightforward as she and Suzanne Rayappan, the top seeds, took on rising stars Jenny Wallwork and Gabby White.

Kellogg and Rayappan took the first game 21-14 but back roared the young Leeds pair to take the second 21-15. But the third was a nail-biter. Kellogg and Rayappan led 18-14 and moved to two match points at 20-18. Wallwork and White recovered to lead 21-20 but White was service faulted on the first of their two match points. In the end Kellogg and Rayappan won on their fourth match point 25-23 after 59 minutes.

In the last final Nathan Robertson made up his mixed doubles disappointment when he and Clark defeated Robert Blair and Chris Adcock 21-13 21-11. That gave Clark a record-equalling eighth men's doubles title alongside Simon Archer's eight from 1994-2001. For Robertson it was his seventh men's doubles.

English National Badminton Championships (Velodrome, Manchester)

Men's Singles Semi-Finals:
(1) Rajiv Ouseph (Middx) bt Ben Beckman ((Surrey) 21-11 21-13
(2) Carl Baxter (Avon) bt (3) Harry Wright (Lancs) 21-7 21-16
Final: Ouseph bt Baxter 21- 16 21-15

Women's Singles Semi Finals:
(1) Elizabeth Cann (Jersey) bt (4) Sarah Walker (Essex) 21-17 21-10
(2) Jill Pittard (Warks) bt (3) Helen Davies (Cheshire) 21-11 21-13
Final: Pittard bt Cann 21-19 14-21 27-25

Men's Doubles Semi Finals:
(1) Anthony Clark (Notts) & Nathan Robertson (Notts) bt (3) Richard Eidestedt (Bucks) & Andrew Ellis (Yorks) 18-21 21-13 21-19
(2) Chris Adcock (Notts) & Robert Blair (Leics) bt (4) Chris Langridge (Surrey) & David Lindley (Notts) 22-20 15-21 21-18
Final: Clark & Robertson bt Adcock & Blair 21-13 21-11

Women's Doubles Semi Finals:
(1) Donna Kellogg (Derby) & Suzanne Rayappan bt (4) Sarah Hardaker (Hants) & Jo Nicholas (Lancs) 21-13 21-6
(2) Jenny Wallwork (Yorks) & Gabby White (Yorks) bt Mariana Agathangelou (Avov) & Sarah Bok (Yorks) 19-21 21-16 21-18
Final: Kellogg & Rayappan bt Wallwork & White 21-14 15-21 25-23

Mixed Doubles Semi Finals
(1) Anthony Clark (Notts) & Donna Kellogg (Derby) bt (4) Chris Adcock (Notts) & Gabby White (Yorks) 21-12 21-11
Chris Langridge (Surrey) & Sarah Bok (Yorks) bt (2) Nathan Robertson (Notts) & Jenny Wallwork (Yorks) 21-18 18-21 21-16
Final: Clark & Kellogg bt Langridge & Bok 21-10 21-19

For more reports see www.nationalbadmintonchamps.co.uk

Bok and Langridge topple Robertson and Wallwork at Nationals

2009-01-31T20:12:00.003Z

FOUR-TIMES champion Nathan Robertson (Notts) crashed out of the mixed doubles in the English National Championships semi-finals at Manchester Velodrome on Saturday.

He and Jenny Wallwork (Yorks), who are in the England squad for the European Team Championship in Liverpool in mid-February, lost to Chris Langridge (Surrey) and Sarah Bok (Yorks) 21-18 18-21 21-16 in 56 minutes of tense badminton action.
In the final the pair, who until this tournament had not won a game together never mind a match, will face European champions Anthony Clark (Notts) and Donna Kellogg (Derbyshire) after their 21-12 21-11 win over fourth seeds Chris Adcock and Gabby White.

Bok said: “There’s no way we’ve ever played as well as that before” while Langridge, runner-up in the men’s doubles for the last two years, added: “It’s great to beat a big name. After all, he’s the England player that everyone has heard of.”

Langridge also blamed himself for the pair not winning in straight games. “We had a good lead in the second and it was my fault we lost it.”

Whatever happens in the final Bok and Langridge want to show they can be a force in London 2012. “Our biggest aim is to qualify for London,” said Bok.

Langridge added: “The Olympics in London is every player’s dream. There are stepping stones ahead and one of them is to make the coaches realise we are quite a good pair.”

In the men’s singles final defending champion Rajiv Ouseph (Middx) will meet second seed Carl Baxter (Avon) after their straight-games wins over Ben Beckman (Surrey) and Harry Wright (Lancs) respectively.

Jersey top seed Elizabeth Cann is chasing her fourth title in five years and booked her place in the final with a 21-17 21-10 win over Sarah Walker (Essex). Three-time runner-up and second seed Jill Pittard (Warks) will meet her in the final after her straight-game win over Helen Davies (Cheshire) 21-11 21-13.

Robertson was still in the hunt for one title when he and Clark, the defending champions, tackled the doubles semi-finals later in the night.

But Bok and Langridge were also in semi-final action in the level doubles as well.

Singles seeds through to the English National semi-finals

2009-01-31T17:24:00.002Z

THIRD SEED Harry Wright is through to the semi-finals for the first time since he made it as a teenager by overcoming former England squad member Toby Honey in the quarter-finals.

Wright (Lancs) beat the sixth seed from Surrey 21-18 21-15 and now faces second seed Carl Baxter (Avon), who put out 2002 champion Mark Constable 21-13 21-16.

For Wright it is the first time he has been beyond the second round since the Championships came to Manchester six years ago.

Top seed and defending champion Rajiv Ouseph (Middlesex) is though to tonight's last four after beating eighth seed Jamie Bonsels (Surrey) 21-16 21-13.

He will meet Surrey's Ben Beckman, who put out Nottinghamshire's seventh seed Neil White 21-14 21-11.

In the women's singles the game attracting most attention was the clash between Warwickshire second seed Jill Pittard and 16-year-old Panuga Riou of Hampshire.

Pittard had just too much experience for the youngster and booked her semi-final place with a 21-16 21-15 win. She now faces Cheshire's Helen Davies, who knocked out Fontaine Chapman of Warwickshire in the only singles quarter-final to go to three games.

Davies won 21-16 15-21 21-9 in what was also the longest singles quarter-final at 41 minutes.

In the top half of the draw Jersey’s No 1 seed Elizabeth Cann, chasing her fourth title in five years, cruised past Nottinghamshire's Alexandra Lindley 21-10 21-10 to set up a semi-final with fourth seed Sarah Walker (Essex), who beat Yorkshire’s Sarah Milne 21-19 21-11.

In the doubles events Nathan Robertson, battling with a streaming cold, eased into the men's doubles quarter-finals with Anthony Clark (both Notts). They knocked out Dorset’s Mark James and Cheshire’s Matthew Sprake 21-7 21-11.

Clark and Derbyshire’s Donna Kellogg, the European champions, defeated Yorkshire’s Marcus Ellis and Surrey’s Sam Ward 21-6 21-10 to set up an exciting semi-final against young stars Chris Adcock of Notts and Gabby White of Yorkshire. The teenagers needed three games to get past Robin Middleton and Mariana Agathangelou 21-15 10-21 21-15.

Surrey’s Chris Langridge and Yorkshire’s Sarah Bok scored the big shock by knocking out third seeds and world No 16s David Lindley of Notts and Suzanne Rayappan of Herts 15-21 21-17 21-15 and will now meet Robertson and Lancashire’s Jenny Wallwork. The second seeds beat Dean George and Sarah Walker 21-19 21-15.

Ouseph on the title trail

2009-01-30T19:37:00.003Z

DEFENDING CHAMPION Rajiv Ouseph got off to a flying start when the English National Championships got under way today at the Velodrome in SportCity, Manchester today.
The top seed from Middlesex, who is world No 40, outplayed Yorkshire’s Richard Morris in the opening round of the men’s singles 21-8 21-15 in the morning session then returned in the afternoon to book his place in tomorrow’s quarter-finals by beating Surrey’s Robert Kettle 21-12 21-9.

Eighth seed Jamie Bonsels of Yorkshire will be his next opponent after he edged past Shropshire’s Mark Sellwood 22-20 21-15.

Jersey’s Mark Constable, the 2002 champion and the only other player in the draw apart from Ouseph to have appeared in the final, booked his place in the last eight with a close 21-15 23-21 victory over Yorkshire’s Alex Marritt. Fifth seed Constable, who was representing Warwickshire when he was champion, now meets second seed Carl Baxter of Avon.

Constable’s Jersey team-mate Elizabeth Cann is top seed in the women’s singles and is bidding for a third title in a row and a fourth in five years – all in Manchester. She was in action in the evening session against Hertfordshire’s England international Rachel Howard and Cann came through 21-19 21-11.

In the mixed doubles Nathan Robertson (Notts) and Jenny Wallwork (Yorks) returned to tournament action after missing the Malaysia and Korea Opens. The second seeds faced a tricky second round against Nick Ponting (Gloucs) and Julie Bradbury (Oxfordshire), two 40-somethings making a sentimental return to the Nationals more than 13 years after being doubles champions.

Robertson and Wallwork, the second seeds, were made to work for their place in the last eight before winning 21-14 21-17.

European champions and top seeds Anthony Clark (Notts) and Donna Kellogg (Derbyshire) got their bid for a hat-trick of wins off to a sound start with a 21-7 21-16 second-round win over Ben Stawski (Warks) and Lauren Smith (Cumbria) after a first-round bye.

Clark and Robertson team up as top seeds and defending champions in the men’s doubles where Clark is bidding for a record-equalling eight title in a row and a fifth with Robertson.

Play at the English Nationals continues with the quarter-finals tomorrow (Sat, 10am) with the semi-finals in the evening session (5.30pm).

Ian Moss is Badminton England's new Performance Director

2009-01-30T00:07:00.000Z

BADMINTON England today announced the appointment of Ian Moss as their Performance Director as Team GB step up their plans to deliver medal success in London 2012.

He joins badminton from Rowing Canada Aviron, where in the past four years he has transformed them into a nation who brought home medals in four of the five disciplines in Beijing last summer, and he is seen as the man with the pedigree to take Team GB to the Podium.

BADMINTON England Chief Executive Adrian Christy acted quickly after disappointing results in Beijing and said: “What was obvious to everyone after the Games was that GB had to step up another level if we are to consistently compete for and achieve medal success and we immediately set about the search for someone who could lead the Performance programme.

“Ian met every aspect of the criteria we had set ourselves; extensive World and Olympic experience, clear vision, a great understanding of the environment we are in and tremendous leadership, organisation and decision-making skills. Vitally, he has proved he can come into a system, grasp what needs to be done, and progress to win medals. He is an outstanding appointment for us.”

Prior to joining Rowing Canada Aviron, Moss was Executive Director with Badminton Canada for eight years and he is relishing the opportunity to rekindle his passion for the sport with BADMINTON England.

Moss, 49, who was born and raised in England before moving to Canada, said: “This is certainly a very exciting opportunity for me personally and one that I look forward to with great anticipation. The right building blocks are certainly in place for success and I believe I can bring the right style of leadership to the programme in order to achieve medal success in 2012 and beyond.”

He will officially take up his post in April but will begin to make his mark immediately with the programme players and coaches.

The next generation of players who hope to be part of the GB programme can be seen this weekend at their respective National Championships.

And Moss will see them first hand when he attends the European Team Championship at the Echo Arena, Liverpool from February 10-15 because England, Scotland and Wales are drawn in the same group. He will also be able to see many of those players in action again when he visits the Yonex All England Championships at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham from March 3-8.

Gade in Denmark Squad as England prepare for Euro bid

2009-01-29T08:28:00.001Z

TEAM ENGLAND today learned that they will have to overcome Denmark at their strongest if they are to win the European Team Badminton Championship at the Echo Arena Liverpool from February 10-15.

With just under two weeks to go to the start of the Championship, all 32 competing nations submitted their squads to Badminton Europe today.

And after weeks of speculation about the Denmark line-up, former BADMINTON England Performance Director Finn Traerup Hansen, who is now Denmark’s head coach, has relented and named his strongest possible squad – including singles stars Peter Gade and Tine Rasmussen.

Gade is the man in form having just won the Korean Open Super Series men’s singles title while Rasmussen is the 2008 Yonex All England women’s singles champion as well as this month’s Korea Open winner. The Danish team, who are holders, 12-times winners and top seeds, have named 18 players in their squad although Traerup may well hold back his big guns until the knockout stages.

Team England were among the first to name their squad at the start of this month and team manager Ian Wright can draw on the experience of new European mixed doubles champions Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg as well as the men’s doubles partnership of Clark and Nathan Robertson, who reached the Malaysian Open semi-finals in early January. Those three players have nearly more than 250 international appearances between them.

In contrast Liverpool’s Helen Davies is the rookie in the team, having been selected after making a winning debut against Poland in Warsaw in December.

Fourth seeds Poland or fifth seeds Holland are Team England’s likely semi-final opponents if the second seeds and former champions (1978 and 1984) come through Group 8 to earn their place in the knockout quarter-finals. There they are expected to face eighth seeds Ukraine.

Poland have named world No.9 Przemyslaw Wacha and doubles specialists Michel Logosz, Robert Mateusiak and Kamila Augustyn in their line-up while the Dutch have also named their strongest squad with Eric Pang and Dicky Palyama for men’s singles and 2002 European champion Yao Jie and Judith Meulendijks for women’s singles.

Third seeds Germany are Denmark’s likely semi-final opponents and their strength lies in the women’s events where they can call on 2006 and 2008 European champion Xu Huaiwen or Juliane Schenk to play both singles and doubles if necessary.

England start their campaign in the evening session (6pm) on Tuesday, February 10 against the Czech Republic before facing Wales on the Wednesday and Scotland on the Thursday evening.

The Scotland squad includes Jillie Cooper, who recently won the Bank of Scotland International and Yonex Welsh International women’s doubles titles with England squad member Mariana Agathangelou while Super Series Masters mixed doubles finalists Imogen Bankier and Edinburgh-born England player Robert Blair are also in opposing camps

When Wales and Scotland meet on the opening night it will bring Andrew Bowman up against Martyn Lewis in the doubles. The pair won the Welsh International men’s doubles together in November.

A total of 410 players representing a total of 32 nations were confirmed today and can be viewed on www.europeanbadminton.com

BADMINTON England Chief Executive Adrian Christy said: “It’s great for the fans that Denmark have named players like Peter Gade in their squad and I am delighted to see such a top-quality entry for the Team Championship. It will whet the appetite for the Individual Championship when it comes to Manchester in April next year.

“But first we want to get behind Team England. The home fans can play a vital part if England are to end that 25-year wait for another team title.”

The groups competing over the first three days of the European Team Championship (with seeding in brackets) are:

GROUP 1 GROUP 2 GROUP 3 GROUP 4

Denmark (1) France (7) Germany (3) Russia (6)
Spain Cyprus Slovakia Latvia
Slovenia Portugal Estonia Norway
Ireland Switzerland Sweden Belarus

GROUP 5 GROUP 6 GROUP 7 GROUP 8

Netherlands (5) Poland (4) Ukraine (8) England (2)
Austria Finland Italy Czech Republic
Israel Lithuania Hungary Wales
Belgium Bulgaria Iceland Scotland

Final positions in the 2008 European Team Championship:
1 Denmark, 2 England, 3 Poland, 4 Netherlands, 5 Germany, 6 Russia, 7 France, 8 Ukraine, 9 Scotland, 10 Bulgaria,11 Sweden, 12 Czech Republic, 13 Iceland, 14 Finland, 15 Ireland, 16 Estonia.

Denmark have won the last seven European titles and 12 in all since the competition began in 1972. England have been the champion nation five times but have not struck gold since the 1984 Europeans in Preston – the last time the event was staged in England.

Sweden are the only other nation to have been champions (1992 and 1994) and they are in Group 3 with third seeds Germany, Slovakia and Estonia.

It is the first time the European Team Championship has not been played concurrently with the European Individual Championships. Instead, Manchester’s MEN Arena will host the European Individual Championship in April 2010.

Tricky English Nationals test for Robertson and Wallwork

2009-01-27T11:43:00.000Z

PAST WINNERS Nick Ponting (Gloucs) and Julie Bradbury (Oxfordshire) are on course to meet second seeds Nathan Robertson (Notts) and Jenny Wallwork (Yorks) in the second round of the mixed doubles after the draw for this weekend’s English National Badminton Championships at Manchester Velodrome was published today.

Ponting, like Robertson, has won the mixed four times but the 42-year-old’s wins came between 1992 and 1995. Bradbury, 42 next month, won her one mixed title with Simon Archer in 1996 but this season Ponting and Bradbury have been the pair to beat on the Over 40s circuit.

Two-time defending champions Anthony Clark (Notts) and Donna Kellogg (Derbyshire), the European champions, begin their hat-trick bid with a second-round clash against the winners of the first-round meeting between Tom Armstrong (Leics) & Catherine Grant (Warks) and Ben Stawski (Warwicks) & Lauren Smith (Cumberland)

Clark and Kellogg are on course to meet former world junior silver medallists and fourth seeds Chris Adcock (Notts) and Gabby White (Yorks) in the semi-finals while world No 16 pair David Lindley and Suzanne Rayappan are Robertson and Wallwork’s likely semi-final opponents if the event goes to seeding.

Four-times champions and holders Clark and Robertson are top seeds in the men’s doubles where the winners of the first-round clash between Gary Fox (Lancs) & Richard Morris (Yorks) and Chris Evans (Hants) & Adam Smith (Avon) present the first obstacle. Clark is chasing his eighth men’s doubles title in a row.

The big test will come if they move on to meet joint third seeds Richard Eidestedt (Bucks) and Andrew Ellis (Yorks) in the semi-finals. Eidestedt and Ellis are England’s highest ranked pair in the world at No 21 but Clark and Robertson produced their best performance since teaming up again when the reached the Malaysian Open semi-finals earlier this month and are now up to No 46 after just a handful of events back together..

Second seeds Chris Adcock (Notts) and former champion Robert Blair (Leics), ranked
No 22 in the world, are on course to meet fourth seeds Chris Langridge (Surrey) and David Lindley (Notts) in the semi-finals. Langridge and Lindley were runners-up in the Swedish International in Stockholm on Sunday and that performance should boost their world ranking from No 58.

Rajiv Ouseph (Middx) defends his men’s singles title as top seed and starts against Yorkshire’s Morris. His first real test should come against Yorkshire’s eighth seed Jamie Bonsels in the quarter-finals with Surrey’s Ben Beckman the likely semi-final obstacle.

The big danger is second seed Carl Baxer (Avon), who reached the semi-finals in Stockholm. He starts against Warwickshire’s Chris Dakin but Jersey’s fifth seed and former champion Mark Constable might present his first real problem if they meet in the quarter-finals. Constable, the 2002 champion, is the only other player in the draw to have reached the final apart from Ouseph.

Jersey’s Elizabeth Cann is favourite to win her fourth women’s singles title but might face a difficult second-round test if she comes up against Hertfordshire’s England international Rachel Howard.

Three-time runner-up Jill Pittard (Warks) is the second seed and can expect to meet third seed and new England international Helen Davies (Cheshire) in the semi-finals. But first she may have to dispose of promising Hampshire teenager Panuga Riou in the quarter-finals.

In the women’s doubles Kellogg is bidding to win the title three years in a row with different partners following successes with Gail Emms and Tracey Hallam. Kellogg and Suzanne Rayappan (Herts) are top seeds and start off their title bid against Hampshire pair Jo Dix and Kelly Holdway.

They can anticipate a tricky semi-final against former England players Sarah Hardaker (Hants) and former champion Jo Nicholas (Beds), the fourth seeds.

Yorkshire duo Wallwork and White, England’s No 1 women’s doubles pair for the European Team Championships in Liverpool from February 10-15, are second seeds and start their bid against Howard and Nicola Cerfontyne (Dorset).

They are likely to face third seeds Mariana Agathangelou and Sarah Bok in the semi-finals but to get there the Avon-Yorkshire pair may have to overcome three-time champion Bradbury and Heather Olver (Sussex) if they meet in the second round.

Play in these sixth English National Championships start at 10am on Friday and continue until the five finals on Sunday afternoon. A record £12,000 prize fund is on offer and a total of 149 players (97 men and 52 women) from as far away as Northumberland, Guernsey and Jersey have entered.

Langridge and Lindley, Adcock and Olver miss out in Stockholm finals

2009-01-26T00:09:00.000Z

Unseeded David Lindley and Chris Langridge went down in the final of the men's doubles at the Swedish International in Stockholm while Rob Adcock and Heather Olver had to settle for runners-up spot after winning an all-England semi-final with Robin Middleton and Mariana Agathangelou to reach the mixed doubles final.

Lindley and Langridge lost a 60-minute final against Naoki Kawamae and Shoji Sato despite taking the first game. The England pair finally went down 15-21 21-14 21-17.

Unseeded Adcock and Olver reached the mixed doubles final with a 21-15 23-21 win over Robin Middleton and Mariana Agathangelou on Saturday but the Scottish International runners-up went down in the final against Valeriy Atrashchenkov and Elena Prus of Ukraine 21-16 21-11.

In the semi-finals Langridge and Lindley beat Croatia's Zvonimir Durkinjak and China's Hong Mao 21-17 21-18 to earn a final showdown with Kawamae and Sato. The Japanese pair knocked out Polish third seeds Adam Cwalina and Wojciech Szkudlarczyk 21-19 21-11.

But there was disappointment in the singles when eighth Carl Baxter lost to Denmark's fifth seed and European Team Championship squad member Jan O. Jorgensen 21-13 21-16.

Saturday

Eighth seed Carl Baxter is through to the semi-finals of the Swedish International in Stockholm after English National champions Rajiv Ouseph and Elizabeth Cann made early exits from the singles events on Friday.

Top seeds David Lindley and Suzanne Rayappan were also among the second- round casualties in the mixed doubles.

But Baxter defeated Finnish fourth seed Ville Lang 21-17 21-14 in the quarter-finals to earn a crack at Denmark's European Team Champinship squad member Jan O Jorgensen, who toppled top seed Eric Pang 22-20 22-20. Brice Leverdez of France faces Dutchman Dicky Palyama in the other semi-final.

In the mixed doubles Rob Adcock and Heather Olver won their quarter-final with Sweden's Tim Foo and Russia's Anastasia Kudinova 21-17 21-17 while Middleton and Agathangelou put out French second seeds Baptise Careme and Laura Choinet 16-21 21-16 21-12.

That helped make up for Middleton's quarter-final exit in the men's doubles with Marcus Ellis, falling to Polish third seeds Adam Cwalina and Wojciech Szkudlarczyk 21-18 21-14.

But Lindley and Chris Langridge won their quarter-final against Japan's Hirokatsu Hashimoto and Noriyasu Hirata 21-12 21-17 and now face Croatian Zvonimir Durkinjak and China's Hong Mao.

In the women's doubles quarters third seeds Olver and Rayappan went out in a tight clash 21-18 21-19 against Bulgaria's Petya Nedelcheva and Dimitria Popstoikova.

In Friday's early rounds seventh seed Rajiv Ouseph was beaten by Denmark's Kasper Ipsen 21-15 18-21 21-16 while fifth seed Elizabeth Cann fell to China's Xi Zhang 21-17 21-14.

But the biggest blow was the defeat of world No 16s Lindley and Rayappan to Bulgaria's Stilian Makarski and Diana Dimova 21-15 12-21 21-18 in the second round.

Kellogg top Nationals seed with new partner Rayappan

2009-01-24T13:17:00.004Z

DONNA KELLOGG has been named No 1 seed in the women’s doubles at the English National Badminton Championships as she aims to lift the title with a third different partner in the last three Championships.

The Derbyshire star, who won four of her six titles with Gail Emms, retained the crown last year with Commonwealth singles champion Tracey Hallam.

But when the English Nationals get under way at the Velodrome in Manchester’s SportCity on January 30, she will be defending her title with Hertfordshire’s Suzanne Rayappan. The young Yorkshire pair of Jenny Wallwork and Gabby White are seeded to meet Kellogg and Rayappan in the final on Sunday February 1.

Kellogg, who is chasing a seventh women’s doubles title in total since her first with Joanne Goode in 1998, is also bidding for her fifth mixed doubles title - and her third in a row with Anthony Clark. They are top seeds in the mixed ahead of Clark’s friend and Nottinghamshire team-mate Nathan Robertson, who is now partnering Wallwork following the retirement of Emms after the Beijing Olympics.

Clark and Robertson, semi-finalists at this month’s Malaysian Open, are also top seeds in the men’s doubles where the defending champions are bidding for a fifth title together. Clark is going for an eighth title in a row. Former champion Robert Blair (Leics) and Chris Adcock (Notts) are second seeds.

Middlesex’s 2008 champion Rajiv Ouseph is top seed in the men’s singles ahead of Avon’s Carl Baxter while in the women’s singles Elizabeth Cann, who won last year for Middlesex, is back representing Jersey and is the title favourite as she bids for a fourth singles crown.

Three-times runner-up Jill Pittard (Warwickshire) is second seed with Cheshire’s Helen Davies, who has just been named in the Team England squad for the European Team Championship at Echo Arena Liverpool from February 10-15, the third seed.

This is the sixth English National Badminton Championships to be staged at the Velodrome and a record £12,000 prize fund is on offer as a total of 149 players (97 men and 52 women) from as far away as Northumberland, Guernsey and Jersey have entered.

The English National Championships are being staged at the Velodrome thanks to the special partnership between BADMINTON England, Manchester City Council, Carlton, badminton retailers www.sportsdiscount.com and specialist building validation company Imperial Consultants, with invaluable support from the Manchester Evening News.

Cllr Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, said: "We are very pleased to welcome back the English National Badminton Championships to Manchester in 2009 as part of our exciting calendar of sporting events and are looking forward to seeing the high level of sports competition that the players bring to the city.”

Seedings
Men’s singles:
1 Rajiv Ouseph (Middlesex)
2 Carl Baxter (Avon)
3 Harry Wright (Lancashire)
4 Ben Beckman (Surrey)
5 Mark Constable (Jersey)
6 Toby Honey (Surrey)
7 Neil White (Nottinghamshire)
8 Jamie Bonsels (Yorkshire)

Women's singles:
1 Elizabeth Cann (Jersey)
2 Jill Pittard (Wariwckshire)
3 Helen Davies (Cheshire)
4 Sarah Walker (Essex)

Men’s doubles:
1 Nathan Robertson & Anthony Clark (Nottinghamshire)
2 Robert Blair (Leics) & Chris Adcock (Nottinghamshire)
3 Richard Eidestedt (Bucks) & Andrew Ellis (Yorkshire)
4 Chris Langridge (Surrey) & David Lindley (Nottinghamshire)

Women’s doubles:
1 Donna Kellogg (Derbyshire) & Suzanne Rayappan (Herts)
2 Jenny Wallwork & Gabby White (Yorkshire)
3 Mariana Agathangelou (Avon) & Sarah Bok (Yorkshire)
4 Sarah Hardaker (Middlesex) & Jo Nicholas (Bedfordshire)

Mixed doubles:
1 Anthony Clark (Nottinghamshire) & Donna Kellogg (Derbyshire)
2 Nathan Robertson (Nottinghamshire) & Jenny Wallwork (Yorkshire)
3 David Lindley (Nottinghamshire) & Suzanne Rayappan (Hertfordshire)
4 Chris Adcock (Nottinghamshire) & Gabby White (Yorkshire)

England players warm up in Stockholm for the Nationals

2009-01-22T13:22:00.000Z

ENGLAND'S Helen Davies and Rachel Howard came through the qualifying rounds to reach the main draw at the Swedish International in Stockholm today.

But Panuga Riou was unlucky to come up against second qualifying seed Carola Bott of Germany and went down 23-21 21-9.

Howard clinched her place in the main draw by beating third seed Barbara Matias of France 26-24 21-15 while seventh seed Davies won a tough three-game battle against Poland's Malgorzata Kurdelska 14-21 21-18 21-13.

Howard's reward is an all-English clash with seventh seed Jill Pittard in the first round on Friday.

In the men's qualifying Ben Beckman defeated Denmark's Kristian Midtgaard in three games in his opening contest 22-20 13-21 21-15 but lost in the second round to Stilian Makarski of Bulgaria 21-15 21-15.

Jamie Bonsels went out in his opening match againsst Denmark's Christian Bruun Hensen of Denmark 18-21 21-15 21-14.

In mixed doubles qualifying Robin Middleton and Mariana Agathangelou earned a place in the main draw with wins over two Danish pairs. They beat Mikkel Elbjorn and Maria Helsbol 21-18 21-18 then put out third seeds Mads Pieler Kolding and Line Damkjaer Kruse 21-15 21-16. That earned them a first-round clash with Poland's Adam Cwalina and Malgorzata Kurdelska.

David Lindley and Suzanne Rayappan, the top seeds, had a first round bye.

In the men's singles seventh seed Rajiv Ouseph starts against Kasper Ipsen while eighth seed Carl Baxter meets another Dane, Christian Lind Thomsen.

Dutchman Eric Pang is the top men's seed.

In the women's singles Elizabeth Cann is fifth seed and starts her bid against China's Xi Zhang. Bulgaria's Petya Nedelcheva is top seed.

Bumper entry for English Nationals at Velodrome

2009-01-20T10:47:00.002Z

THE sixth English National Badminton Championships to be staged at the Velodrome in SportCity Manchester has once again pulled in a bumper, top-class entry.

All five titles will be defended by 2008 winners between January 30-February 1 with new European mixed doubles champions Anthony Clark (Notts) and Donna Kellogg (Derbyshire) both bidding to retain their two doubles titles.

The pair are aiming for a third successive mixed doubles title while Clark is going for an eighth consecutive men’s doubles title as he defends his crown with his friend, Nathan Robertson (Notts).

Former world champion and 2004 Olympic silver medallist Robertson is sure to be a threat in the mixed with new partner Jenny Wallwork (Yorks), following Gail Emms’ retirement. But Clark and Robertson will be out to make it five men’s doubles titles together having also won in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Kellogg is bidding to retain the women’s doubles title with a third different partner in a row. She won her third consecutive title with Emms two years ago, took the title last year with Tracey Hallam when Emms was unwell, and will this year bid for glory with Suzanne Rayappan of Hertfordshire. Kellogg has seven women’s doubles titles to her name, having won her first title back in 1998 with 2000 Olympic mixed bronze medallist Jo Goode.

In the men’s singles Rajiv Ouseph will defend the title he won for the first time last year – and 2002 winner Mark Constable (Jersey) is the only former champion in the line-up following the retirement of past winners Nick Kidd and Aamir Ghaffar.

In the women’s singles Jersey’s Elizabeth Cann, who is up to No 28 in the world, will be bidding for her fourth title, having won in 2005, 2007 and 2008. She is the only woman in the draw to have won the title.

A record £12,000 prize fund is on offer at the 2009 Championships and a total of 149 players (97 men and 52 women) from as far away as Northumberland, Guernsey and Jersey have entered.

Among the surprise mixed doubles entries are former champions Nick Ponting and Julie Bradbury. Ponting (Gloucs) was a men’s doubles winner as far back as 1991 while Bradbury won the women’s singles that year and is the last player to have won three different titles, having won three women’s doubles titles with Gill Clark and Jo Goode (twice) and mixed doubles with Simon Archer. Nine-times men’s doubles winner Archer is back for another shot this year with Herfordshire’s Victor Liew.

Among the younger entries, Hampshire teenager Panuga Riou is the rising star in the women’s singles while in the doubles events former world junior silver medallists Gabby White (Yorks) and Chris Adcock (Notts) will be out to challenge for the doubles and mixed titles. White partners Wallwork in women’s doubles while Adcock teams up with former champion Robert Blair (Leics) in men’s doubles.

The English National Championships are being staged at the Velodrome thanks to the special partnership between BADMINTON England, Manchester City Council, Carlton, badminton retailers www.sportsdiscount.com and specialist building validation company Imperial Consultants, with invaluable support from the Manchester Evening News.

Cllr Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, said: "We are very pleased to welcome back the English National Badminton Championships to Manchester in 2009 as part of our exciting calendar of sporting events and are looking forward to seeing the high level of sports competition that the players bring to the city.”

2008 Champions:
Men’s singles: Rajiv Ouseph (Middx)
Women’s singles: Elizabeth Cann (Jersey)
Men’s doubles: Anthony Clark & Nathan Robertson (Notts)
Women’s doubles: Tracey Hallam (Staffs) & Donna Kellogg (Derbyshire)
Mixed doubles: Anthony Clark (Notts) & Donna Kellogg (Derbyshire)

Premier League boost for Badminton

2009-01-16T09:54:00.001Z

BADMINTON England today joined forces with the greatest football league in the world as it continues to deliver its ambitions to increase participation.

Supported by the Youth Sport Trust and Sport England, the project will see BADMINTON England partner with every Premier League football club to offer thousands of young people between age of 11 - 16 years the chance to play badminton.

The initiative, which is being funded by the Government was launched by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club today where young budding badminton players got the chance to hit on court with England international and Tottenham star Jonathon Woodgate and BADMINTON England Ambassador and former Olympic silver medallist Gail Emms.

BADMINTON England Chief Executive, Adrian Christy said: “We are delighted to be involved with this unique and exciting project.

"We all know how big a part football plays in the lives of young people and this is a wonderful opportunity for us to work creatively to ensure more young people get exposed to our sport through their school and for them to join badminton clubs the length and breadth of the country."

The first phase of the project will see links developed between five Premier League clubs - Tottenham, Fulham, Middlesbrough, Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion - and the schools and selected badminton clubs in their respective catchment areas.

Blair and Bankier clock up squad's first win in Korea

2009-01-15T17:08:00.000Z

Third seeds Robert Blair and Imogen Bankier built on a first-round bye to reach the quarter-finals of the Korean Open in Seoul today.

England's Blair and Scotland's Bankier won a tight match 21-18 15-21 21-18 against Taipei's Fang Chieh Min and Cheng Wen Hsing.

They now meet Yohan Hadikusuma Wiratama and Chau Hoi Wah in the last eight.

Wednesday

England players had a torrid first day at the Korea Open Super Series in Seoul.

Former world junior silver medallists Chris Adcock and Gabby White lost to Korea's Ko Sung Hyin and Jang Ye Na 16-21 21-19 21-14 in the mixed doubles first round.

And it wasn't Adcock's day as he also went down with Robert Blair in the opening round of the men's doubles, losing 21-17 21-17 to Taipei's Fang Chieh Min and Lee Sheng Mu.

England's other men's doubles hopes, Richard Eidestedt and Andrew Ellis, were then toppled by Yoshiteru Hirobe and Hajime Komiyama but it was agonisingly close. The England pair lost 21-15 17-21 22-20, having held one match point before the Japanese pair won on their only match point.

Andrew Smith was next to fall when the England No 1 was beaten by Chan Yan Kit of Hong Kong 21-17 21-10 in the men's singles first round.

That all meant Jenny Wallwork and Gabby White were the only England hopes left. They are though to the second round of the women's doubles with one of an amazing 15 byes - only one first-round match was played.

Wallwork and White face second seeds Lee Hyo Jung and Lee Kyung Won in tomorrow's second round.

In the mixed doubles the Anglo-Scottish third seeds of Robert Blair and Imogen Bankier also had a first-round bye.

Davies named in England squad for European Team Championship

2009-01-13T11:23:00.000Z

IAN WRIGHT today named a 12-strong Team England squad for the European Team Championship at Echo Arena in Liverpool from February 10-15.

And Cheshire's Helen Davies looks set to make her home England debut in the group stages when the second seeds face the Czech Republic, Wales and Scotland.

Team England are seeded to top their group and if they reach the knockout stages then they can expect to face a likely quarter-final against Ukraine and a semi-final against Poland or the Netherlands.

Davies, 22, from the Wirral, celebrated her first senior appearance with a win in women's singles in the 3-2 defeat by Poland in Warsaw in early December.

Avon's Mariana Agathangelou, who won the Bank of Scotland International Championship and the Yonex Welsh Open with Scotland's Jillie Cooper, is also rewarded for her good form with a place in the squad.

Team manager Wright can call on the experience of his senior players while taking the opportunity to give younger squad members a taste of the big occasion. Nathan Robertson, with 93 England caps, and European champions Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg (31 next week) know how to handle themselves in pressure situations while Davies and teenagers Chris Adcock and Gabby White represent the stars of the future.

Wright said: "We've gone for youth and experience. This is the start of a new cycle and we are trying to phase in some of the younger players. With home advantage in Liverpool, this is the perfect opportunity to do that.

"We are also planning to take some of the other emerging players to Liverpool to wear the England track suit and sample the atmosphere. We want to start filtering in the young players as and when the opportunity presents itself."

The squad includes three men from Notts (Robertson, Clark and Adcock), two women from Leeds (Wallwork and White) and two players with Jersey roots (Cann and Agathangelou).

If Robertson were to play in every match and England reached the final he would move to 99 England appearances, Kellogg is one short of 80 caps, while former Scotland international Blair is four away from 50 for England.

The full squad for the Center Parcs-supported Team England is:

Men
Chris Adcock (Notts, age 19, 4 caps)
Robert Blair (Leics, age 27, 46 caps)
Anthony Clark (Notts, age 31, 82 caps)
Rajiv Ouseph (Middlesex, age 22, 22 caps)
Nathan Robertson (Notts, age 31, 93 caps)
Andrew Smith (Hants, age 28, 28 caps)

Women
Mariana Agathangelou (Avon, age 20, 3 caps)
Elizabeth Cann (Jersey, age 29, 22 caps)
Helen Davies (Cheshire, age 22, 1 cap)
Donna Kellogg (Derbyshire, age 30, 79 caps)
Jenny Wallwork (Yorkshire, age 22, 12 caps)
Gabby White (Yorkshire, age 18, 4 caps)

Non-travelling reserves: Ben Beckman (Surrey), Andrew Ellis (Yorks), Sarah Walker (Essex).

Robertson’s brave bid ends in Malaysia

2009-01-10T23:11:00.001Z

Anthony Clark and Nathan Robertson's brave Malaysian Open bid ended in disappointment today when they went down 21-19 17-21 21-16 to Korean second seeds Jung Jae Sung and Lee Yong Dae in the semi-finals.

The English National men’s doubles champions and 2004 European silver medallists led 12-9 in the deciding game but could not hold off a determined surge by the Koreans, who now meet Alvent Chandra and Hendra Gunawan of Indonesia in the final at this opening Super Series event of the year.

But Clark and Robertson, who will have boosted their world ranking of No 60 by reaching the last four in only their fourth tournament back in tandem, will be heartened by this performance in the countdown to the English National Championships at Manchester Veldorome from January 30-February 1 followed by the European Team Championships at Echo Arena in Liverpool from February 10-15.

England will be bidding to improve on their silver medal behind Denmark last year and win their first team gold since 1984.

Clark and Robertson give England a European boost in Malaysia

2009-01-09T19:07:00.001Z

Nathan Robertson and Anthony Clark produced their best win since teaming up again when they beat former world champions and third seeds Lars Paaske and Jonas Rasmussen in the Malaysian Open quarter-finals today.

The English National champions, who defend their title in Manchester at the end of the month before heading for the Euroepan Team Championship in Liverpool from February 10-15, beat the third seeds 21-16 23-21.

The England pair won on their third match point and booked themselves a semi-final with second seeds Jung Jae Sung and Lee Yong Dae, who edged past Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong.

In the other semi-final top seeds Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan meet Alvent Changra and Hendra Gunawan.

At the European Team Championship England are second seeds behind holders Denmark, who beat Ian Wright's team in last year's final in Herning.

Robertson and Clark and Paaske and Rasmussen would be likely to clash again in men's doubles if England meet Denmark in the final at Liverpool's Echo Arena on February 15.

Clark and Robertson through to quarter-finals in Malaysia

2009-01-08T12:30:00.001Z

Anthony Clark and Nathan Robertson are on the march at the Proton Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur.

The English Nationals champions, who defend their title in Manchester at the end of this month, followed up yesterday's thrilling win over Malaysians Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah by beating Fang Chieh Min and Lee Sheng Mu of Taipei 21-18 21-16.

That earned Clark and Robertson a quarter-final clash with Denmark's third seeds Lars Paaske and Jonas Rasmussen, who are likely to be key members of the defending champion and top seed's squad at the European Team Championship in Liverpool from February 10-15.

But there was disappointment for England's Robert Blair and Scotland's Imogen Bankier in the mixed doubles when the fifth seeds lost 21-16 21-18 to Malaysia's Hoon Thien How and Chin Eei Hui.

The Anglo-Scottish pair will now be among the small squad heading for next week's Korean Open in Seoul along with doubles parnership Gabby White and Jenny Wallwork and singles player Andrew Smith.

Richard Eidestedt and Andrew Ellis will compete in doubles in Korea, along with Blair and Adcock who will also partner White in mixed.

Clark falls in the mixed but roars back with Robertson in Malaysia

2009-01-07T14:44:00.001Z

European champions Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg were among the big names to fall on day one of the Proton Malaysia Open in Kuala Lumpur.

The English National champions and third seeds went down 21-16 17-21 21-10 to unseeded Malaysian pair Koo Kien Keat and Ng Hui Lin in the year's opening BWF Super Series event.

But Clark returned to court late in the evening to pull off a great men's doubles win with Nathan Robertson.

Before that Chris Adcock and Gabby White, the 2007 world junior silver medallists, also went out of the mixed doubles, beaten by Denmark's Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen 21-17 17-21 21-12. But the Danes have the edge in experience having been the 2008 Denmark Open winners.

But England's Robert Blair and Scotland's Imogen Bankier made it through to the last 16 when the fifth seeds came from behind to beat Mak Hee Chun and Ng Marlen Poau Leng of Malaysia 19-21 21-6 21-10. They now face another Malaysian pair in qualifiers Thien How Hoon and Chin Eei Hui.

Andrew Smith, England's only representative in either singles event, also lost on day one. He was beaten by Dutchman Dicky Palyama 21-14 23-21 despite Smith having led 20-17 in the second game. Smith let slip four game points while Palyama took the contest on his first match point.

It was a tough first day for Kellogg, who also lost her women's doubles first round match with Bankier as they went down 21-15 21-14 to Cheng Sook Chin and Woon Khe Wei.

In the men's doubles Adcock and Blair, who also contested the Masters last month, lost their first-round contest with Han Sang Hoon and Hwang Ji Man of Korea 21-14 14-21 21-17 while Bank of Scotland International champions Richard Eidestedt and Andrew Ellis were despatched by Japanese pair Kenichi Hayakawa and Kenta Kazuno 21-17 21-8.

White and Jenny Wallwork went into women's doubles action in the evening session but went down to seventh-seeded Koreans Ha Jeung Eun and Kim Min Jung 21-16 21-6.

That left Clark and Nathan Robertson as last men standing and up against Malaysian sixth seeds Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah of Malaysia.

But the English National champions turned the clock back to pull off a fine win against the 2004 Malaysian Open champions and 2006 Asian Games winners with a 22-20 21-19 win after being 14-9 down in the second game.

So Clark and Robertson and Blair and Bankier are through to day two.

Emms to be BADMINTON England’s first Ambassador

2009-01-06T22:49:00.002Z

GAIL EMMS is back. England’s Team GB Olympic star, who retired after the Beijing Games, today reached agreement with BADMINTON England to be their first Ambassador for the sport.

The 2004 Olympic mixed doubles silver medalist and 2006 World and Commonwealth Champion (with Nathan Robertson) will start her new role immediately.

And one of her key tasks at the National Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes will be to act as a mentor with some of the high-potential players aiming for success at London 2012.

BADMINTON England Chief Executive Adrian Christy said: “We couldn’t let Gail just slip away quietly after everything she has done for badminton. She has not only achieved unprecedented success for herself but has also raised the sport’s profile like never before.

“It goes without saying what a fantastic role model Gail is for all the young players coming through and her role with BADMINTON England will provide the opportunity for her to pass on so much.”

Emms, 31, who represented England 68 times following her debut in1995, said: “After what badminton has done for me, this is now a great opportunity to give something back to the sport. We have some real talent coming through and I am looking forward to working with the players who can hopefully build on the success that came my way.

“I’ve had a few months to relax and reflect on my playing career and I am now refreshed and ready for this new and exciting challenge. I’m not here to coach but to inspire and motivate and I hope I can play my part in getting people involved in badminton at all levels.

“We have big opportunities to showcase the sport and BADMINTON England over the next three years in the countdown to London 2012. It’s an opportunity not to be wasted – I can’t wait to get started.”

The new role is not just aimed at the Elite end of the sport; a major part of the work is geared to grass roots. “Gail already does a lot of work in schools and I want to build on this by getting her close to our clubs” said Christy. “In that way she can help the development of the game across the country generally but specifically at our new Performance Centres.

“As our first Badminton Ambassador, she will be a spokesperson for the sport and play a key role in building the BADMINTON England brand and generating wider media interest in us and our activities.

“We have worked very hard to increase the number of people playing our sport and there is a lot more still to be done. We are far more than simply an Elite Olympic sport but a game that can be enjoyed by all age groups - from school and junior level, right through the club and grass-roots level, and on to Veterans. Gail has a big part to play in helping us achieve our ambitions.”

Clark and Kellogg edged out in Masters semi-finals

2008-12-20T16:35:00.000Z

EUROPEAN champions Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg were edged out by doubles world champions Nova Widianto and Liliyana Natsir at the BWF Super Series Masters semi-finals in Sabah, Malaysia, today.

The world No 4 pair and third seeds lost to the Indonesian top seeds 23-21 21-17 after letting slip two games points in the opener. The Indonesians took the game on their third game point.

The double English National champions were in touch at 14-13 in the second game before the Indonesians edged away to win on their second match point after 36 minutes.

In the final they will face Denmark's Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Juhl in the battle of the unbeaten pairs. In the semi-final they beat Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkam despite the Thailand pair retiring in the third game against Widianto and Natsir in their finaljavascript:void(0) group match yesterday.

Yonex All England champion Tine Rasmussen was Europe's last hope in the women's singles but she went down 21-13 21-16 to former Chinese star and Hong Kong player Zhou Mi in their semi-final.

But Europe have one finalist in Peter Gade. The Dane qualified in second place in his group on countback (points won and lost) after he, Chan Yan Kit and Wong Choong Hann had each won one match and lost two.

And in the semi-final fourth seed Gade beat second seed Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia 21-10 21-10. Gade will face Lee Chong Wei or Taufik Hidayat in the men's singles final tomorrow.

Clark and Kellogg through to Super Series Masters semi-finals

2008-12-19T16:34:00.000Z

England's European mixed doubles champions Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg are through to the BWF Supers Series Masters semi-finals in Sabah, Malaysia.

After losing their opening group match to Denmark's second seeds Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Juhl yesterday, they hit back to win their next two matches, today beating Lim Khim Wah and Wong Pei Tty of Malaysia 21-12 21-10.

That put the third seeds through to the last four and a clash with double world champions and top seeds Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir, who topped Group A with three wins.

But Robert Blair and Imogen Bankier won't be joining them in the last four after losing their third and final group match against seventh seeds Flandy Limpele and Vita Marissa of Indonesia. After being beaten twice on day one, they went down 21-17 21-15.

Laybourn and Juhl will meet Limpele and Marissa in the semi-final even though Thailand's Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkam won two matches. They retired at 1-1 in the deciding game of their match with Widianto and Natsir and, as a result, were dropped to bottom of the group table with 0 points.

There was some consolation for Blair today after a total of three defeats yesterday. He and England teenager Chris Adcock chalked up a men's doubles win when they defeated seventh-seeded Danes Anders Kristiansen and Simon Mollyhus 21-18 21-17. If they can beat the second seeds Latif and Tazari of Malaysia tonight they will make it into the semi-finals.

England's men's singles hope Andrew Smith played his third group match against former Olympic and 2005 world champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia but after two tough three-game defeats against Joachim Persson and Sony Dwi Kuncoro on day one, he went down in straight games 21-8 21-17

To follow the evening session or weekend results check out www.tournamentsoftware.com or log on to www.WoB.tv to catch the live action from the Super Series Finals

Clark and Kellogg score England’s only Masters win on Day One

2008-12-18T16:34:00.000Z

ANTHONY CLARK and Donna Kellogg lost their opening group match but won their second contest on a tough day for England at the BWF Super Series Masters finals in Sabah, Malaysia.

European champions and third seeds Clark and Donna Kellogg were eged out by Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Juhl of Denmark in their group opener 13-21 21-16 21-15.

But they returned to court to score England's only day-one win by beating Thailand's sixth seeds Songphon Anugritayawan and Kunchala Voravichitchaikul 21-13 21-16 to keep alive their semi-final hopes.

Tomorrow they face eighth seeds Lhim Kim Wah and Wong Pei Tty of Malaysia in their final group match.

There was agony for Robert Blair and Scotland's Imogen Bankier, who wasted three match points in their opening contest.

The 2007 Bank of Scotland Centenary International mixed doubles champions won the opening game against fifth seeds Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkam of Thailand 21-12. But the Thailand pair levelled the match at 21-14.

In the decider the Anglo-Scottish fourth seeds and World No 8 pair led 20-19, 21-20 and 22-21 before the Thailanders snatched victory with their first match point to win the deciding game 24-22.

The defeat must have left Edinburgh-born Blair and Glasgow's Bankier dispirited because in their second mixed doubles match of the day they went down to top seeds and double world champions Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir of Indonesia 21-9 21-7 in just 18 minutes.

It was a tough first day for Blair. He also lost his opening men's doubles with Chris Adcock, falling to Korean third seeds Jung Jae Sung and Lee Yong Dae 21-17 12-21 21-11 and must win both doubles matches tomorrow to have chance of progressing into the semi-finals.

Blair and Adcock face second seeds Latif and Tazari of Malaysia and seventh seeds Anders Kristiansen and Simon Mollyhus of Denmark. On top of that Blair and Bankier take on Flandy Limpele and Vita Marissa in the mixed as Blair faces three matches for the second day running.

In the men's singles England No 1 Andrew Smith went down to Joachim Persson of Denmark 21-14 14-21 21-12 and, despite another battling display in his second match, fell to second seed Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia 21-12 22-24 21-12.

Tomorrow Smith faces Taufik Hidayat, the former world and 2004 Olympic champion from Indonesia.

BADMINTON England scoop £20.8million Sport England award

2008-12-17T16:33:00.000Z

BADMINTON England today took a giant step towards delivering its promise to develop the game at club level like never before after receiving a Sport England award of £20.8m spread over the next four years.

The funding, which is an increase of £7.5million on the previous four-year period, comes just two weeks after receiving £8.6m from UK Sport's Elite Funding Programme geared to producing Team GB badminton medallists at London 2012.

The Sport England award is crucial in helping BADMINTON England achieve its goals in getting more people playing the sport at school, club and community level as well as at the Elite end of the game.

Just a week ago badminton emerged as the most-played racket sport in Sport England's Active People Survey. Now BADMINTON England have the chance to push even further forward.

BADMINTON England Chief Executive Adrian Christy received the news of the award while in Warsaw for last night's international clash between England and Poland. Before travelling home he said: "This award is great news for us and couldn't have come at a beter time.

"We have clearly been able to demonstrate the growth of English badminton in the last couple of years and we will never have a better opportunity to attract more people to our sport and get them playing what is a great game.

"We have the European Team Championships in Liverpool in February 2009 and the European Individual Championships in Manchester in April 2010. Then comes the World Championships in London in 2011 in the build-up to the Olympics in 2012.

"If those major events alongside our commitment to grass-roots badminton don't motivate people to take up our sport then nothing will - which is why over the next four years BADMINTON England will be working like never before at increasing the number of people playing badminton.

"But we cannot achieve our aims without getting more coaches into the game and into clubs and their local community. Neither can we without supporting our volunteers at club and county level. This will be a team effort that will make it happen.

"We are determined to make people appreciate that BADMINTON England isn't just about the sport at Elite level but about the development of the game at grass roots as a healthy activity for players of all ages and all standards.

"That means putting the focus on schools and junior players, club players, veterans and disability badminton for everyone and I am delighted that Sport England have shown such faith in us."

England edged out by Poland in Warsaw

2008-12-17T16:31:00.000Z

England went down 3-2 to Poland in Warsaw last night in the return international following Ian Wright's squad's 5-0 victory in Swindon at the start of November.

But it was a night to remember for Cheshire's Helen Davies, who scored a debut victory over Anna Narel 21-11 21-17 to put England back in the match after losing the opening mixed doubles and men's singles.

Nathan Robertson, winning his 93rd cap, put up a spirited display in the mixed doubles with Jenny Wallwork before losing 22-20 21-18 to Robert Mateusiak and Nadiezda Kostiuczyk.

In the men's singles Rajiv Ouseph could not repeat his Swindon win over Polish No 1 Prezemyslaw Wacha. going down 21-13 21-16.

After the women's singles win put the CenterParcs-backed Team England back in the match, it was down to David Lindley and Chris Langridge to try to complete the recovery. But they couldn't quite get the upper hand against the experienced men's doubles pair Mateusiak and Michal Logosz, who won 21-15 21-14 to give Poland a winning lead.

In fairness, this was a much stronger Poland side to the one which played in Swindon. But England at least had the satisfaction of taking the women's doubles with Wallork and Gabby White winning 21-18 21-15 against Malgorzata Kurdelska and Agnieszka Wojtkowska.

Results: Poland 3 England 2

Mixed doubles: Robert Mateusiak & Nadiezda Kostiuczyk bt Nathan Robertson & Jennifer Wallwork 22-20 21-18

Men's singles: Przemyslaw Wacha bt Rajiv Ouseph 21-13 21-16

Women's singles: Anna Narel lost to Helen Davies 21-11 21-17

Men's doubles: Robert Mateusiak & Michal Logosz bt David Lindley & Chris Langridge 21-15 21-14

Women's doubles: Malgorzata Kurdelska & Agnieszka Wojtkowska lost to Jenny Wallwork & Gabby White 21-18 21-15

Blair tackles Masters finals at the double

2008-12-17T09:57:00.000Z

ANTHONY CLARK and Donna Kellogg go in search of a $42,000 jackpot when they compete in the BWF Yonex Sunrise Super Series Masters finals in Sabah, Malaysia from Thursday to Sunday. And joining them in these first finals is Robert Blair and Scotland's Imogen Bankier.

Blair and Bankier face a hectic start to their challenge when the fourth seeds meet Thailand's fifth seeds Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoughthongkam at in their opening Group A morning match tomorrow followed by Indonesian double world champions and top seeds Nova Widianto and Liliyana Natsir in the evening session.

On Friday they complete their group campaign against another Indonesian pair, seventh seeds Flandy Limpele and Vita Marissa.

In Group B third seeds and European champions Clark and Kellogg will take on Denmark's second seeds Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Juhl and Thailand's sixth seeds Songphon Anugritayawon and Kunchala Voravichitchaikul tomorrow and Malaysia's eighth seeds Lim Khim Wah and Wong Pei Tty on Friday.

Blair will have a busy time of it as he is also in the men's doubles with England team-mate Chris Adcock. The pair are seeded eighth and in Group A will face Denmark's seventh seeds Anders Kristiansen and Simon Mollyhus, Malaysian second seeds Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif and Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari and Korean third seeeds Jung Jae Sung and Lee Yong Dae.

For Blair it all adds up to six matches in three days with the prospect of more to come.

England's Andrew Smith finds himself in the men's singles following the mass withdrawal of all China's players and the seventh seed is in a tough Group B.

He begins against Danish third seed Joachim Persson then faces second seed Sony Dwi Kuncoro later in the day before completing his group programme on Friday against former world and Olympic champion and fifth seed Taufik Hidayat.

In Group A top seed Lee Chong Wei is up against Peter Gade, Chan Yan Kit and Wong Choong Hann.

Badminton participation still on the up

2008-12-11T16:31:00.000Z

NEW research figures released today confirmed Badminton’s status as England’s most-played racket sport and highlighted its continued and sustained increase in participation since 2002.

The Sport England Active People Survey 2 canvassed 191,000 people across England about their sporting habits. Figures suggest that Badminton has continued to attract more players, with 19,000 more people aged 16+ now taking part at least once per week. Although the increase is not large enough over this one period to count as statistically significant it indicates that Badminton participation is still on the rise.

Badminton has the sixth-highest participation rate of any sport recognised by Sport England, which now also includes jogging as part of athletics and recreational cycling and competitive cycling as one sport. Overall 1.29% of adults take part in Badminton at least once a week (535 700 people). This is up from 1.27% two years ago, and places Badminton ahead of such sports as Tennis (1.18%), Squash (0.71%), Rugby Union (0.56%), and Cricket (0.49%).

A report commissioned by BADMINTON England earlier this year revealed that numbers playing the sport had increased by 22% between 2002 and 2006, bucking the general trend of static participation across most sports in that period.

George Wood, BADMINTON England’s Head of Development, said: “The new findings not only reinforce Badminton’s continued growth over this decade, but are in line with BADMINTON England’s funding targets for 2005 to 2009.

“This is extremely encouraging news as we await the outcome of our Sport England funding decision for the crucial period from 2009-2013. The statistics show the huge part that Badminton can play in delivering the legacy for London 2012 of more people participating in sport. “

Ouseph wins singles, Ellis and Eidestedt lift doubles in Ireland

2008-12-08T16:30:00.000Z

Rajiv Ouseph won the men's singles title at the Yonex Irish International in Dublin yesterday (Sunday) as he warmed up for the defence of his English National title next month. Just three weeks ago the 21-year-old from Middlesex won the men's singles at the Bank of Scotland International Championships in Glasgow.

In the final Ouseph was too strong for Ireland's Olympic player Scott Evans, winning 21-5 21-19. The win will boost Ouseph’s world ranking from No 44.

Ouseph had defeated Denmark's Martin Delfs 21-10 21-10 in the quarter-finals and then outplayed another Dane, fifth seed Hans Kristian Vittinghus, 24-22 21-15 in the semi-finals.

Sixth seed Evans had prevented an all-English final when he beat Avon’s fourth seed Carl Baxter in a tight contest 21-19 21-18. Baxter had defeated Sweden's Mathias Wigardt 21-17 21-19 in the quarter-finals while team-mate Harry Wright gave Evans a fright before the Irishman won 21-15 13-21 21-11.

England made it a double when Andrew Ellis (Yorks) and Richard Eidestedt (Bucks) added the Irish men's doubles title to their win in Scotland.

In the final the third seeds beat unseeded Danes Martin Delfs and Morten T Kronborg 21-13 21-16, having knocked out the fifth and seventh seeds in the previous two rounds.

They will now rise from No 33 in Thursday's ranking list and can hope to overtake England's highest ranked pair of Rob Adcock (Notts) and Robin Middleton (Yorks) at No 31.

In the women's doubles Heather Olver (Sussex) and Holland's Samantha Barning just missed out on a place in the final when they went down to Duch pair Patty Stolzenbach and Paulien Van Dooremalen 21-15 21-16.

In the quarter-finals the Anglo-Dutch pair had knocked out fourth seeds Maria Helsboel and Anne Skelbaek 21-13 21-10.

GB Badminton’s £8.6m boost for London 2012

2008-12-04T16:29:00.000Z

BADMINTON can today start building in earnest for the London 2012 Olympics after being awarded £8.6million under UK Sport's Elite Funding Programme.

BADMINTON England Chief Executive Adrian Christy said: "I am delighted that badminton continues to have the full support of UK Sport to deliver its future medal hopes.

"We are very much aware of the current climate in which the Government have been trying to secure the level of funding required to build on the great success Team GB enjoyed in Beijing.

"Having not medaled in Beijing, there was clearly a risk to us where any removal of funding would have had a devastating impact on our aspirations to see GB athletes on the podium in London.

"After a nervous couple of hours this morning I took a call from John Steele, Chief Executive at UK Sport, and was delighted to hear that we had been awarded just over £8.6m for this Olympic cycle - a figure in line with our hopes and expectations.

"What this means is that we can invest exactly where we need to - that being in our athletes. You can rest assured that we will give the athletes we believe can deliver for us, the best support possible in an environment that is conducive to success."

Team GB won a bronze medal through Simon Archer and Joanne Goode at the Sydney Olympics and a silver medal through Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms (pictured) at Athens 2004.

Robertson has vowed to carry on in the hope of climaxing his career with a medal in London and, since Emms' retirement, he is now competing with new partner Jenny Wallwork. Players like Robertson, Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg will provide the experienced backbone to a squad which has a rich vein of talent coming through in time for the London Games.

A total of £292 million of confirmed investment has been allocated by UK Sport to British Olympic and Paralympic sports ahead of the London Games in 2012.

This funding, building on the £265 million invested for Beijing, has enabled UK Sport to agree a target of a “Top Four” finish in London, aiming to win more medals in more sports than in Beijing and thereby ensure the most successful Olympic performance by a British team for 100 years.

The Paralympic target is to retain second place in the Medal Table behind China, again winning more medals in more sports than in Beijing.

A total of £247 million has been invested in Olympic sport for the London cycle. The funded sports are: Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Canoeing, Cycling, Diving, Equestrian, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Modern Pentathlon, Rowing, Sailing, Swimming, Synchronised Swimming, Taekwondo and Triathlon.

The Olympic sports that are still to have their funding confirmed are: Fencing, Handball, Shooting, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Water Polo, Weightlifting and Wrestling.

On the Paralympic side, there are a number of significant increases in funding for sports in order to ensure that there are sufficient resources available to our most successful programmes.

A total of £45 million has been confirmed today to Archery, Athletics, Boccia, Cycling, Equestrian, Judo, Powerlifting, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Wheelchair Basketball (Men), Wheelchair Rugby and Wheelchair Tennis.

The Paralympic sports that are still to have their funding confirmed are: Fencing, Goalball, Volleyball, and Wheelchair Basketball (women).

Except for Wheelchair Tennis, Football and Tennis disciplines will receive no funding from UK Sport as they are deemed able to self fund.

Blair and Bankier join Clark and Kellogg in Masters finals

2008-12-02T16:29:00.000Z

ROBERT BLAIR and Imogen Bankier were today named in the line-up for the Badminton World Federation's first Super Series Masters final at Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, from December 18-21.

The Anglo-Scottish pair will join world No 4 ranked pair Anthony Clark (Notts) and Donna Kellogg (Derbyshire), who had already assured themselves of a place in the finals thanks to a superb year which has seen them win the European title and finish runners-up in three Super Series events - the Swiss, Singapore and French Opens.

Blair (Leics) and Glasgow's Bankier, who was 21 two weeks ago, are up to No 9 in the world after building on a quarter-final showing at the Yonex All England Championships in March to produce five more quarter-finals .They capped that last month with a semi-final surge at the Denmark Open in Odense.

The two pairs are the only British players to qualify for the finals.

The competition, with a US$500,000 prize pool, will be played on a round-robin format with two pools of four. The first and second placed players or pairs in each group will qualify for the semi-finals.

“It’s fantastic to have the Finals this year and we have a very good spread of countries represented in Kota Kinabalu,” said BWF Secretary General Stuart Borrie. “This will be the best of the best and a fitting end to this Olympic year."

The qualified players/pairs (with Super Series ranking points in brackets) are:

Men’s singles: Lee Chong Wei (Mas, 58240 pts), Chen Jin (Chn, 52180), Sony Dwi Kuncoro (Ina, 49320), Joachim Persson (Den, 47400), Peter Gade (Den, 44260), Lin Dan (Chn, 41800), Taufik Hidayat (Ina, 41580), Chan Yan Kit (Hkg, 32160).

Men’s doubles: Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan (Ina, 65540) Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Tazari (Mas, 61600), Lars Paaske-Jonas Rasmussen (Den, 52160), Jung Jae Sung-Lee Yong Dae (Kor, 45440),
Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen (Den, 40920), Candra Wijaya-Tony Gunawan (Ina-USA, 36540),
Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong (Mas, 35940), Fu Haifeng-Cai Yun (Chn, 34280).

Women’s singles: Zhou Mi (Hkg, 72760), Tine Rasmussen (Den, 61320), Wang Chen (Hkg, 54740),
Zhu Lin (Chn, 53000), Lu Lan (Chn, 49980), Pi Hongyan (Fra, 39600), Xu Huaiwen (Ger, 36720),
Hwang Hye Youn (Kor, 35400).

Women’s doubles: Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui (Mas, 64340), Du Jing-Yu Yang (Chn, 54660), Lilyana Natsir-Vita Marissa (Ina, 51560), Zhao Yunlei-Cheng Shu (Chn, 39880), Lena Frier Kristiansen-Kamilla Rytter Juhl (Den, 39600), Ha Jung Eun-Kim Kin Jung (Kor, 39540), Maeda Miyuki-Suetsuna Satoko (Jpn, 30960), Lee Kyung Won-Lee Hyo Jung (Kor, 28460).

Mixed doubles: Nova Widianto-Lilyana Natsir (Ina, 64160), He Hanbin-Yu Yang (Chn, 51360),
Thomas Laybourn-Kamilla Rytter Juhl (Den, 48720), Lee Yong Dae-Lee Hyo Jung (Kor, 45460),
Anthony Clark-Donna Kellogg (Eng, 45120), Xie Zhongbo-Zhang Yawen (Chn, 39880),
Robert Blair-Imogen Bankier (Eng-Sco, 37210), Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thoungthongkam (Tha, 36840).

Clark and Robertson's brave run ends in Hong Kong semi-finals

2008-11-29T16:28:00.000Z

Anthony Clark and Nathan Robertson, the last England badminton pair in action at the Yonex Sunrise Hong Kong Open, went down in the men's doubles semi-finals today.

The English National champions lost 21-19 21-17 in 35 minutes to Korean third seeds Lee Yong Dae and Jung Jae Sung.

It was Lee Yong Dae who defeated Robertson in the Olympic mixed doubles in what turned out to be his last match with Gail Emms.

But this Hong Kong week, when Robertson and Clark came through qualifying to reach the semi-finals, was the best performance by the former European silver medallists since they teamed up again after the Olympic Games and will boost their BWF world ranking when the new list comes out on Thursday.

end